"I want to declare once again strictly and unambiguously: Russia has never conducted and will not conduct talks with terrorists. And we advise the European Community countries to stop flirting with terrorists and extremists," the minister said at the opening of the third international conference "The role of military in the fight against terrorism" under the aegis of the NATO-Russia Council.
Mr. Ivanov stressed that such flirting will boomerang in the long run.
"What is pleasant is that the anti-terrorist sphere has become an inseparable part of the growing cooperation between Russia and NATO," the minister said.
"Our task is to work out an efficient system of measures to prevent and block any acts of terrorism, as well as to punish people who committed terrorist acts or those involved," he emphasized.
"I believe our conference will be held constructively, its aims will be successfully achieved, and its results will be the basis for formation of approaches to specify the military's role in the fight against international terrorism in modern conditions," Mr. Ivanov added.
