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Sarkozy: Leave defense 'in the past'
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, (UPI) -- The president of France said the idea of Russia and Europe building up defenses against each other is an archaic notion that should be left in the past.
Nicolas Sarkozy made the remark in a speech Saturday at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, RIA Novosti reported.
"The idea that Russia should protect itself from Europe and that Europe should protect itself from Russia is a thing from the far past," Sarkozy said. "We must believe that we are fighting against one and the same threats."
He cited terrorism and organized crime as common threats facing both Russia and Europe that should be fought jointly.
"A new organization that would unite Europe and Russia on a large-scale economic space is needed," Sarkozy said, "where people are allowed to move freely, and where we could jointly organize our security, in particular using the suggestions that were made by President Medvedev."
Sarkozy was referring to a pan-European security pact proposed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in in 2008.
A draft of the proposal was presented by the Kremlin in November 2009.
Twenty governments have responded to the draft, and the European Union and NATO have also studied it, RIA Novosti reported.
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, (UPI) -- The president of France said the idea of Russia and Europe building up defenses against each other is an archaic notion that should be left in the past.
Nicolas Sarkozy made the remark in a speech Saturday at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, RIA Novosti reported.
"The idea that Russia should protect itself from Europe and that Europe should protect itself from Russia is a thing from the far past," Sarkozy said. "We must believe that we are fighting against one and the same threats."
He cited terrorism and organized crime as common threats facing both Russia and Europe that should be fought jointly.
"A new organization that would unite Europe and Russia on a large-scale economic space is needed," Sarkozy said, "where people are allowed to move freely, and where we could jointly organize our security, in particular using the suggestions that were made by President Medvedev."
Sarkozy was referring to a pan-European security pact proposed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in in 2008.
A draft of the proposal was presented by the Kremlin in November 2009.
Twenty governments have responded to the draft, and the European Union and NATO have also studied it, RIA Novosti reported.