New NATO Chief's First Speech Reaches Out To Russia

September 18, 2009 8:27 a.m. EST

Brussels, Belgium (AHN) - NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has delivered his first major policy speech at the Carnegie Endowment, Brussels. In his address, Rasmussen hoped to dispel the "misperceptions, mistrust and diverging political agendas" of the two former Cold War adversaries.

"I believe that of all of NATO's relationships with Partner countries, none holds greater potential than the NATO-Russia relationship," Rasmussen said. "We spend too much energy on what divides us. We should instead focus on what unites us."

Rasmussen, who spent eight years as the Prime Minister of Denmark, assumed office at the top of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in August, replacing Jaap de Hoop Scheffer from the Netherlands.

Now, Rasmussen wants to shore up relations with the Russian Federation, which still holds an important place in strategic discussions with Iran and China, as well as its ongoing dispute with Georgia.

"Quite simply, NATO-Russia cooperation is not a matter of choice - it is a matter of necessity... Russia must realize that NATO is here to stay, - not because we think Russia is an enemy. We do not. But because Allies share common values, and a culture of cooperation we want to preserve. And there should be no doubt, anywhere, that this Alliance will continue to make the security of all its members our number one priority," Rasmussen said.

"We also need to be realistic in recognizing that NATO will continue its open door policy -- not because of any intention to 'encircle' or marginalize Russia, but because respect for territorial integrity and the right of each sovereign state to freely decide its security policy and alignments are fundamental if Europe is to be truly 'whole and free,'" Rasmussen added.