Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Saturday that Russia would negotiate with the new U.S. administration on the missile program.
Photo: Mikhail Razuvaev
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Moscow Won’t Cooperate on Missiles
The United States is “frustrated” at Moscow’s refusal again to cooperate on missile defense in Europe, U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood has stated. "It seems that every time we put forward a proposal, they reject it," Wood said on Monday. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Saturday that Russia would negotiate with the new U.S. administration on the missile program.
The American proposal was received last week by the Russian Foreign Ministry. It would allow Russian specialists access to the U.S. missile defense facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev promised in his address to the Federal Assembly to place Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad Region to counter the threat posed by the U.S. missiles. He also stated that electronic jamming will be used against the U.S. defenses and missile regiment at Kozelsk will not be reformed.
Barack Obama has stated after his election victory that he will not reject the missile defense plan, although he rejects other elements of current President George W. Bush’s plans. Poland signed an agreement with the U.S. on August 10 on the placement of ten Patriot interceptor missiles on Polish territory. That agreement includes a mutual aid clause “ion case of danger.” Radar facilities will be placed in the Czech Republic. The U.S. has given assurances that the purpose of the facilities is to defend against attack by pariah states.
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