Rogozin Says Set to Work With NATO
By Nikolaus von Twickel

Russia's new representative to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, offered a trademark nationalist farewell Thursday before heading to Brussels -- but stressed that he was prepared to work constructively with the alliance.

...Rogozin told a news conference when asked about taking his jingoist reputation to the Western military alliance he has accused of carrying out the "aggressive interests of the United States."

Rogozin accused Washington of violating NATO solidarity by offering a missile-defense shield to former Warsaw Pact members Poland and the Czech Republic.

Elements of the missile shield located in the two countries could make them targets for "hypothetical missile attacks," he said.

Rogozin complained that while NATO claimed a threat from the south, the alliance had expanded eastward. "Maybe their compass is out of whack," he said.

Russia can help with directional difficulties, Rogozin said, "We have our own [compass]."