The United States struggled to ease
Russian fears about plans to extend its vast missile shield into Europe,
as Moscow and First Vice Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, seen here in
February 2007, brushed off for the time being an offer to cooperate on the
project (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
MOSCOW,
April 19 (Xinhua) -- Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov on
Thursday shrugged off possible cooperation with the United States on its missile
defense system.
"As for possible cooperation in strategic
anti-missile defense, honestly speaking, I see no reasons for that," Ivanov, who
served as defense minister before being promoted, told reporters in the Ural
mountains city of Yekaterinburg, the Interfax news agency reported.
"We believe this strategic anti-missile defense
system is somewhat chimerical, to put it mildly," he was quoted as saying.
He however said U.S. plans to build missile defense
sites in eastern Europe may be discussed during a visit by U.S. Defense
Secretary Robert Gates, who is scheduled to arrive in Moscow next week.
Ivanov reiterated Moscow's concern over the U.S.
missile defense plans. "We do not understand why this system is necessary in
eastern Europe -- Poland and the Czech Republic," he said.
The United States is negotiating with Poland and the
Czech Republic for the deployment of interceptor missiles and a radar tracking
system in the two countries respectively.
Washington says the system would be able to help most
of its European allies fend off long-range missile attacks, while Moscow has
sharply criticized such plans.
BRUSSELS, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The United States failed on
Thursday to convince Russia on Washington's plan to deploy missile defense
facilities in Eastern Europe.
"I would like to underscore that
possible deployment of U.S. missile defense site in Europe is not something
pleasant to us," Russian ambassador to NATO, Konstantin Totskiy, told reporters
after a meeting with ambassadors from NATO countries and U.S. officials. Full story
PRAGUE, April 19 (Xinhua)
-- Some 200 people protested against the planned stationing of a U.S. radar base
in the Czech Republic on Thursday.
"The government has started negotiating (about the
base) behind the backs of the people," Communist (KSCM) deputy Katerina Konecna,
whose party organized the demonstration, said. Full story
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