Washington briefing: Russia wants NATO, OSCE replaced with new security pact

by Emil Sanamyan

Published: Friday December 04, 2009

President Dmitry Medvedev published what he called a draft proposal for a new European security treaty that Russia wants to supplant Cold War-era organizations like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The proposal appeared on the president's website on November 29, ahead of the annual OSCE Ministerial meeting and session of the Russia-NATO cooperation council, and received mixed reactions in the West.

The proposal is seen as part of Moscow's efforts to restrict the United States' ability to act unilaterally around the world, while reasserting own international role through the United Nations Security Council.

According to RFE/RL, President Medvedev first discussed Russia's intention to propose a new treaty during his trip to Germany in June 2008.

"I'm convinced that Europe's problems won't be solved until its unity is established, an organic wholeness of all its integral parts, including Russia," Mr. Medvedev said at the time, calling the United States, the European Union, and the Russian Federation the "three branches of European civilization."