U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates speaks to reporters aboard his plane enroute to Moscow March 16, 2008.
Photo: Reuters
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U.S. Not to Make New Proposals to Moscow
En route to Moscow, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters that the United States would propose nothing new to Russia.
"We’ve put a lot on the table and now it’s time for them to reciprocate,” Reuters quoted Gates as saying. According to Gates, the parties reached the oral agreement in October 2007, whereby the missile defense shield would be built in the Czech Republic and in Poland without being put into operation.
The facilities would become operational once the threat of the missile attack by Iran would be confirmed by powerful evidences. Russia’s military would be authorized to inspect the shield in Eastern Europe, the U.S. officials agreed then.
As to the current visit of March 17 and 18, Gates manifested no enthusiasm for the chance to ink any definite agreements and a top-ranked diplomat in Russia appeared equally pessimistic.
The agreements are to be made by President Bush and President Putin or President-Elect Medvedev, Gates made clear, specifying that his task and the task of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is to lay the foundation for them.
www.kommersant.com
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