NATO Urged to Ward Off 'Serious' Russian Challenge
NATO's parliamentary assembly on Monday called on members of the Western military alliance to be ready to respond to the "potential threat" of Russian aggression against them.
The assembly issued a unanimous declaration of proposals after a three-day meeting in Tirana, ahead of a landmark NATO summit in Warsaw in July.
"The challenge from Russia is real and serious," said Michael Turner, the U.S. president of the assembly, which gathered around 250 lawmakers from the 28 member states.
The declaration expressed regret over "Russia's use of force against its neighbors and attempted intimidation of (NATO) Allies."
It said this had "left NATO no choice but to consider the prospect of aggressive Russian action against an Alliance member as a potential threat, and to adopt measured, proportionate responses".
NATO cut all practical cooperation with Moscow following Russia's Ukraine intervention and annexation of Crimea, but the U.S.-led alliance has said it will hold formal talks with Moscow before the July 8-9 summit.
The declaration urged NATO allies to "provide reassurance" to members who feel their security is under threat, especially on NATO's eastern and southern flanks.
In April, the NATO Russia Council (NRC) held its first meeting since June 2014 but the talks ended in "profound disagreements" over Ukraine and other issues, although alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said at the time it was a useful exchange.
NATO has been undertaking a major military revamp to ensure a much quicker response in the event of a repeat of the Ukraine crisis.
But Russia says moves to put more troops and equipment into eastern Europe threaten its security.
The assembly said NATO should explore ways to "reduce tensions" with Moscow, while "addressing Russia's unacceptable violations of international norms."
It also called on NATO to strengthen conventional and nuclear deterrence, and to increase cooperation with European Union border agency Frontex over the migration crisis.
