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13-02-09 Nato-Russia programs undermined by crisis

A significant number of joint Russia-Nato programs have been disrupted due to the economic crisis,Russia's envoy to Nato Dmitry Rogozin told a press conference organized by RBC.The financial crisis has hit a number of nations very hard,and some of them even face bankruptcy,Rogozin noted,adding that these countries were rapidly cutting their military expenses.He explained that "by using this European-Atlantic solidarity,such countries are trying to save on their defense."He reiterated that every country was trying to save money.For one example of a failed project,he cited a program on the creation of international centers for countering plane hijacking,in which Russia participated.Rogozin indicated that the money for the program was allocated and well spent,adding that Russian experts were already working on the project,while "another party did not provide enough funds,citing problems evoked by the financial crisis." With this in mind,he stressed that although some parts of the system were operational,the international system integrating 27 nations did not work