

(File photo/Xinhua)
MOSCOW, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin once raised the issue of the country's possible accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), but Washington was clearly nervous about the idea, according to a Tuesday report by the RIA Novosti news agency.
In a released clip of an interview with American film director Oliver Stone, Putin recalled that he inquired about Russia joining the alliance when then U.S. President Bill Clinton visited Moscow in 2000.
"During the meeting I said: 'Let's consider an option that Russia might join NATO,'" Putin recalled, "Clinton said 'Why not?' But the U.S. delegation got very nervous."
"Why did our partner get nervous? Because if Russia joins NATO, it will always have a voice. We would not allow us to be manipulated. But our U.S. friends do not even allow a thought about this," Putin said in the interview with Stone.
Such disclosures were from a series of interviews with Putin by Stone in 2015-17. The full content is scheduled to be shown in the United States beginning Monday.
Putin also said in the interview that the United States is "using terrorists" to wobble the domestic political situation in Russia, and what happened in Chechnya was an example of U.S. meddling.
"The Cold War is in the past. We have transparent relations with the whole world, and of course we were counting on some support, but instead we saw that the U.S. special services are supporting the terrorists," he said.
Unlike some other countries, Russia has no habit of interfering in the internal political processes of other countries, said Putin.
Fire brigade in Shanghai holds group wedding
Tourists enjoy ice sculptures in Datan Town, north China
Sunset scenery of Dayan Pagoda in Xi'an
Tourists have fun at scenic spot in Nanlong Town, NW China
Harbin attracts tourists by making best use of ice in winter
In pics: FIS Alpine Ski Women's World Cup Slalom
Black-necked cranes rest at reservoir in Lhunzhub County, Lhasa
China's FAST telescope will be available to foreign scientists in April
"She power" plays indispensable role in poverty alleviation
Top 10 world news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 China news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 media buzzwords of 2020
Year-ender:10 major tourism stories of 2020
No interference in Venezuelan issues
Biz prepares for trade spat
Broadcasting Continent
Australia wins Chinese CEOs as US loses