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| Russia to raise European anti-missile plan with U.S. |
| 2007-01-26 |
| Russia said on Friday a U.S. plan to deploy an anti-missile system in Poland and the Czech Republic was a "mistake" which would have negative consequences for international security. The State Department announced on Sunday the two countries had agreed to start detailed talks on allowing their territory to be used for the system, designed to shoot down missiles with rockets. U.S. officials say the system is intended to counter a long-range Iranian missile threat, not Russia. "We believe U.S. plans to create an anti-missile defense system in Europe are a mistake which will bring about negative consequences for international security," said a Russian Foreign Ministry statement posted on its Web site (www.mid.ru). "This issue will be a subject of our detailed analysis and dialogue with the United States and their partners." Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov rejected Washington's reassurances on Wednesday, saying Iranian missiles could not reach Europe. The Russian military say they have modern missiles which can neutralize the planned U.S. missile defense system. But political leaders insist any NATO activity near Russian borders carries broader geopolitical threats for Moscow. Russia, whose reviving self-confidence is backed by a windfall of oil and gas revenues, suspects Washington and NATO of trying to surround it and replace Moscow as a patron of ex-Soviet states. "The creation of a U.S. anti-missile base in Europe can only be viewed as a considerable change in the configuration of the American military presence in Europe," the Foreign Ministry statement said. "The presence of such a base near our borders will be a factor we will have to take into account when planning the next military and political steps, building national defense," it added. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #2 Putie planning on nuking the Europeans? If not then it's none of his concern. If so, then more ABMs and faster, please. |
| Posted by: ed 2007-01-26 12:29 |
| #1 Go ahead and take that missile defense into consideration. We remember how the last arms race ended. We don't mind another one. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2007-01-26 11:19 |