BRUSSELS (Agencies)
NATO urged Russia on Friday to work with it on missile defense and proposed looking at ways eventually to link U.S., NATO and Russian anti-missile systems.
Studying how to tackle the proliferation of ballistic missile technology is in "NATO and Russia's fundamental strategic interest," NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a first major speech dedicated to Russian ties.
" NATO wants Russia to be a real stakeholder in European and international security " NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen One day after Washington scrapped a missile defense plan for Europe which Russia opposed, Rasmussen said Russia and the Western defense alliance should conduct a joint review of the security challenges they face.
"I would like Russia and NATO to agree to carry out a joint review of the new 21st century security challenges, to serve as a firm basis for our future cooperation," Rasmussen said in a speech in Brussels.
"We should explore the potential for linking the U.S., NATO and Russian missile defense systems at an appropriate time."
“NATO wants Russia to be a real stakeholder in European and international security," Rasmussen said at the western alliance's Brussels HQ. "We need Russia as a partner in resolving the great issues of our time." |
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Russian response " The last decision by U.S. President Barack Obama, which cancelled the plans to build missile defence facilities in Eastern Europe, brings us good thoughts " Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin As Rasmussen was speaking, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin praised as "correct and brave" Washington's decision to shelve former president George W. Bush's plans.
"The last decision by U.S. President Barack Obama, which cancelled the plans to build missile defence facilities in Eastern Europe, brings us good thoughts," Putin said in televised remarks.
The 28-nation North Atlantic Treaty Organization has been developing its own plans for defense against short- to medium-range missiles and has in the past cooperated with Russia to ensure such systems can work with each other.
It had been considering moves to complement the scrapped U.S. system to extend the area it would have protected.
The change comes at a time when Cold War-style western reflexes have been on edge following Russia's short war with U.S. ally Georgia, tense posturing over efforts to bring Ukraine into NATO's sphere of influence and fears for energy security given Moscow's vast oil and gas reserves.
Poland and the Czech Republic--where parts of the missile shield were to be based -- officially put a brave face on Obama's decision, saying it did not signal any deterioration in ties with Washington.
In one of the first signs of horse-trading over global security, Rasmussen also issued a cry for Moscow to exert maximum pressure on Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. |
