U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Photo: Reuters
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U.S. Might Adjust Missile Defense to Russia
The plans of the United States to station the missile defense shield in the countries bordering the former USSR in Central Europe could be reconsidered to meet Russia’s requirements, AP reported with reference to the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Rice mentioned the chance to revise the proposals responding to comments of Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. When speaking about the written missile defense proposals of Washington, Lavrov expressed clear disappointment of Moscow and asserted that the United States had backed away from the oral proposals made in October. The written proposals, Lavrov said, have added nothing new to the situation that existed prior to the two-plus-two meeting in Moscow.
The United States is ready to mull over details but there is no need to improve the proposals, Rice told reporters when answering questions about the summit of NATO states.
The United States says it needs the missile defense shield in Europe to protect against potential threat of Iran. Washington is resolved to station 10 interceptors in Poland and build a radar station in the Czech Republic. The Kremlin strongly confronts the idea, apprehending the system will be used against Russia.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates met with their Russian counterparts in Moscow October 12, 2007. Then, the United States agreed to station the missile defense shield without putting it into operation. Another achievement of Moscow was the promise to authorize its military to permanently monitor the use of the system in Poland and in the Czech Republic.
www.kommersant.com
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