German chancellor backs NATO-Russia dialogue

By Erbil Basay

BERLIN (AA) - Chancellor Angela Merkel has said permanent security in Europe could be achieved with Russia, not by going against it.

In her address at Bundestag ahead of a NATO summit in the Polish capital Warsaw, Merkel backed a NATO-Russia council meeting, scheduled to take place on July 13 for easing up tensions in Europe.

She said the summit, which would bring together leaders from 28 NATO allies and many partner nations on Friday and Saturday, had been organized at a time when security conditions in Europe had changed in an important way.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will also attend the summit.

Merkel also criticized Russia’s behavior with Ukraine, saying it deeply disturbed NATO members in the east.

Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in March 2014 following a contested referendum. Since then, the region’s Tatar minority has regularly denounced its increasing repression.

Noting the importance of solidarity within the alliance, Merkel said NATO’s deterrence and defense-oriented activities should be made permanent.

She also said the fight against terrorism should continue with determination.

She said the meeting in Warsaw would also announce they were ready to support the international coalition against Daesh with NATO’s Airborne Warning and Control System, also known as AWACS, aircraft.