We regard the decision taken by the Alliance as a provocation. Its timing is in no way accidental. It appears that some members of NATO are discontent with the way Russia-NATO relations have recently been developing, and they provoke an international scandal on purpose, going all-out in their attempt to disrupt Russian re-engagement with the Alliance along with a reset in relations between Russia and the U.S.

Yesterday Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation Dmitry Rogozin was called to a meeting with NATO Secretary General, where Senior Counsellor of Russian Permanent Mission to NATO Mr. Viktor Kochukov, who is in charge of the political section of the Mission, including the NATO-Russia Council activities, and Attaché of the Permanent Mission Mr. Vasily Chizhov, security officer of the Permanent Mission, who is in charge of the administrative matters, were declared personae non grata in view of inconsistency of their activities with the diplomatic status.

The fact that this announcement was made immediately after the first formal NATO-Russia Council meeting at the level of Ambassadors since the freeze of NRC work in August 2008, where questions relating to the upcoming meeting of ministers of foreign affairs of NRC member-states were discussed, creates a tense atmosphere and sets the wrong tone for the whole process of resuming Russia-NATO cooperation. This decision might call in question this very meeting, which is aimed at re-launching the whole process of re-engaging in NATO-Russia Council activities. This is a regrettable fact. We are considering our possible response actions, which will be based on the international practice established in such cases and will be in line with the nature of our further relations with the Alliance.