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MOSCOW, May 18 (RIA Novosti) - A group of protestors tried to disrupt the opening of a Russia-NATO photo exhibition in Moscow Thursday by attempting to seize the microphones of the assembled dignitaries and shouting inflammatory slogans.
Calling themselves representatives of a Eurasian Union of Youth, the group of young people shouted "NATO is worse than the Gestapo!" "NATO is Russia's enemy!" and "Kill NATO. NATO is Death!"
The protestors demanded that the Hague tribunal condemn NATO's "aggressive actions against 21 countries."
The director of the Foreign Literature Library, which is hosting the exhibition, said the protestors were mad.
"These are insane people who prevent us from joining hands," Yekaterina Geniyeva said. "Today we had a vivid lesson of what threats face us in the world. One of them is growing hatred, fascism and xenophobia."
Sergei Rogov, the director of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of U.S. and Canada, said at the exhibition's opening ceremony that Russia and NATO should engage in real cooperation to combat common challenges.
"I hope we will not only in word but also in deed cooperate in the fight against common threats," he said. He compared Russia-NATO relations with those of fans of different soccer teams, but said he hoped they would be able to find a common language.
The Russia-NATO: Strategic Partnership exhibition was organized by NATO, Russia's permanent mission to the alliance and RIA Novosti. It will run until June 6. About 40 photos at the exhibition cover different aspects of Russia's cooperation with the alliance, including in the political and military fields.
The first such exhibition was opened in December 2006 at NATO headquarters by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
