Russian president Vladimir Putin says his country hasn't considered joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The president said Tuesday that Russia has enough economic and defensive power at present to guard its security, while joining NATO means dropping part of national sovereignty which is unacceptable for Russia.

He added that the east-directed expansion of NATO is not in line with the current world's mainstream.

As for the Russia-US relation, Putin said the two countries have set up mutual trusted dialogue system.

The Russian president will soon start a visit to Slovakia, where he is to meet with US counterpart George .W. Bush.

(CRI.com February 23, 2005)