MOSCOW, April 8, 2004 (RIA Novosti) - Moscow intends to focus on issues related to the ratification of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) at talks with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Alexander Yakovenko, an official Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman, said at a RIA Novosti press conference.
"Russia is seeking to have the four new NATO nations (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Slovenia) covered by the treaty. Russia does not want their absence from the treaty to create 'gray zones' and opportunities to deploy forces there," said Mr Yakovenko.
Russia is also concerned about AWACS planes' patrolling the territory neighboring Russia, emphasized the diplomat.
