OSLO, Norway, June 4 (UPI) -- NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday Russia is not an immediate threat, but condemned Russia for its lack of cooperation with its neighbors.

Stoltenberg, in his native Norway on his first official visit as NATO Secretary-General, told state broadcaster NRK in an interview Wednesday, "What we see is more unpredictability, more insecurity, more unrest... I believe we don't see any immediate threat against any NATO country from the east."


"Our goal is still cooperation with Russia," he added. "That serves NATO and it serves Russia."

Thursday, in an address at the University of Oslo, Stoltenberg was critical of Russian relations with neighboring countries.

"The prerequisite for cooperation with neighboring countries is to respect their borders, and that has not been the case when it comes to Russia. Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine are clear examples of this, as well as the Baltic countries, which are constantly facing challenges as a result of Russia's rhetoric."

Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister, also visited Bodo air base, accompanied by Defense Minister Ina Marie Eriksen Soreide, where he was briefed on the proficiency of Norway's air force and watched a demonstration of F-16 fighter planes.