Russia-NATO ties still repairable: deputy FM

The point of no return in the Russia- NATO relations has not yet been passed, a senior Russian diplomat said Monday.

"I think it's in the interests of both sides not to fuel tensions, but to actively work together on real threats to European and global security," Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov told Interfax news agency.

"Despite all our differences, the global agenda of cooperation on reaction to challenges to international security is still there and Russia is not refusing cooperation in all forms with our partners," he said before a meeting of foreign ministers from NATO 's 28 member states this week.

Traditionally, ministerial meetings of the NATO-Russia Council were conducted during this period. The work of the council, however, has been suspended over the two sides' positions on the Ukraine issue.

Meanwhile, the diplomat accused the military bloc of trying to destabilize Northern Europe, and said Russia will take every measure to protect its national and public security.

"There are incessant military exercises and deployment of planes capable of carrying nuclear weapons to the Baltic countries. This is an extremely negative reality," he said.

Meshkov urged the NATO to return to the "real ground," saying only various extremists benefit from cooling relations between the two sides.

Russia and the NATO have severely strained their ties following the Ukraine crisis. Since April, the NATO ended all practical cooperation with Russia, only maintaining contacts at ambassadorial and higher levels. Enditem