From RIA Novosti:  Russia’s envoy to NATO says there would be no sense in Russia joining the military alliance and the country must preserve its national identity.

Igor Yurgens, the director of the Institute of Contemporary Development (INSOR), said at a Yaroslavl political forum on Thursday that Russia needs to form a union with NATO for strategic partnership and possibly integrate in the military bloc.

"Any participation in an international organization is a transfer of national sovereignty to this organization. Does Russia need this? I doubt it," Dmitry Rogozin said.

The political forum "The Modern State: Standards of Democracy and Criteria of Efficiency" is being held on Thursday and Friday in Yaroslavl, 250 km northeast of Moscow, under the patronage of President Dmitry Medvedev.

Rogozin added that Russia and NATO must have normal partnership relations and there is no need to join the organization to enjoy such ties.  (photo: Mikhail Fomichev/RIA Novosti)

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