The United States has formally made new proposals to Russia
aimed at easing tension over its missile defence plans in Europe,
the Russian Foreign Ministry said yesterday.
Russia has denounced US plans to deploy a radar in the Czech
Republic and interceptor missiles in Poland as a threat to its
security. It offered building up a joint missile defense system
instead but this idea has aroused little interest in
Washington.
Washington promised to set out its latest proposals to Moscow in
writing following talks between foreign and defense ministers last
month.
"... the American side has finally, and late at night, passed to
Russia written proposals regarding anti-missile defense systems. We
are studying them," Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Krivtsov
said.
He gave no details of the substance of the proposals.
Following discussions on October 11-12, US officials said the
suggestions included stationing Russian and American liaison
officers at each other's missile defense facilities as part of a
broader joint effort to protect against missile attacks.
In a bid to ease Russian concerns, Washington also said last
month it had offered to delay activation of parts of its missile
shield in Europe if Russia cooperated on the project.
Russia has offered to share Qabala radar station it leases in
Azerbaijan. While Washington has made clear it was ready to
cooperate with Russia, it said the Russian offer was an addition
rather than a replacement for its missile shield plan.
(China Daily November 23, 2007)
