MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov says Russia does not intend to join NATO at this time.
"Russia is not thinking about filing an application for NATO membership so far but, as the saying goes, never say never again," Ivanov told the 42nd international conference on security in Munich, Germany.
Ivanov said Russia is interested in developing relations with its Asian partners, especially with China and India, RIA Novosti reported.
He also said cooperation between NATO and the Collective Security Treaty Organization -- Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan -- may contribute to the partnership between Russia and NATO in fighting terrorism and rebuilding Afghanistan.
