"We, of course, cannot forbid anyone to join any organisation. We don't see the purpose of or the need for NATO enlargement, particularly in a situation when there are other ways of strengthening security, without creating new lines of division and without re-creating the old situation with two blocs," Lavrov told Montenegrin newspaper Vijesti in an interview.
The Russian minister was asked to comment on some indicatations of Russia opposing Montenegro's aspirations to Alliance membership.
"If NATO is ready to transform itself into a modern (organisation) that will deal with new challenges and threats such as terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, there are specific ways of cooperation with all countries that can participate in this process, while with the current physical and, I would say, mechanical expansion, NATO is simply forever perpetuating the bloc division," Lavrov said.