RUSSIAN NATO ENTRY IS POSSIBLE - GERMAN AMBASSADOR IN MOSCOW

MOSCOW. Sept  24 (Interfax)  - It  is  quite  possible  to  imagine Russia's entry  into NATO  in this  changing world, German Ambassador to Russia Ernst-Jorg von Studnitz told Interfax on Monday.

He was  commenting on  a  recent  statement  of  German  Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder  about the  possibility of  Russia joining  the  North Atlantic alliance.

Nevertheless, the statement of the Federal Chancellor does not have a direct  practical meaning,  the  more  so  as  it  does  not  imply  a particular  time  [for  the  admission  of  Russia  to  the  Alliance  - Interfax], the ambassador noted.

As for  the German  attitude to  American plans  to  exit  the  ABM Treaty, the  government of  Germany would  like to  see stability not be reduced, the  non-proliferation of nuclear armaments to remain in force, and the  possible consequences  of withdrawing  from the  ABM Treaty for stability in Asia to be considered, he said.

Germany welcomes  the dialog  between the  United States and Russia and their search for consensus, the diplomat noted.

He also  commented on  the agenda  of future  negotiations  between Gerhard Schroeder and Vladimir Putin, who will go to Germany on Tuesday. The two leaders will naturally discuss the international reaction to the challenge of international terrorism, the diplomat said.

Germany and Russia are important partners of the United States, and Washington pays attention to their positions, he stressed.

The political  interaction between  Moscow  and  Berlin  is  close, intensive and frank, von Studnitz said.