Russia wants to talk with U.S. on missile defense plan

    MOSCOW, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday that his country wanted to hold talks with the United States over its intentions to deploy part of a missile defense shield in eastern Europe.

    "The Americans' decision has been made in a way that is disrespectful both to the European Union and even to other NATO members," Lavrov said according to the Interfax news agency at the State Duma, the lower house of parliament. Full story

Merkel warns against divisions over U.S. missile defense plan

    BERLIN, March 19 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday that the U.S. unilateral plan to establish a missile defense system in eastern Europe could risk divisions among its allies.

    "We should always talk together with full trust in order to avoid a split," said Merkel at a conference on transatlantic economic partnership.

    "No one can overcome the new challenges alone... this is the case with the EU, and with the United States," said Merkel, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency.  Full story

Russian general: U.S. missile defense plans may result in arms race

    MOSCOW, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The deployment of elements of the U.S. missile defense system in Europe could result in another arms race, commander of the Russia's special forces Col. Gen. Yury Solovyov said Friday.

    "The deployment of elements of U.S. missile defense system will not have a significant impact on our strategic aspects. In my opinion, they will not be able to intercept our ICBMs (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile System)," Solovyov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.  Full story

U.S. says missile defense system beneficial for NATO

    WASHINGTON, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The United States insisted on Monday that the missile defense system that will expand into Poland and the Czech Republic will be beneficial for the NATO alliance.

    "We believe that this is something that provides a valuable means of preventing an attack from a rogue state or other kinds of elements out there. And it's something that is beneficial for the United States and beneficial for the alliance," State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said. Full story

Russia warns of tough response to U.S. missile defense plans

    MOSCOW, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Russian missile forces will be capable of firing at U.S. missile defense elements in Poland and the Czech Republic if the two European countries decide to host them, a top commander said on Monday.

    "If the governments of Poland and the Czech Republic make the decision, the Strategic Missile Forces could put these facilities on the list of targets," forces commander Nikolai Solovtsov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as telling a news conference.  Full story