Putin warns of measures against U.S. missile shield in Europe
13:15 | 04/ 06/ 2007
MOSCOW, June 4 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s president warned of retaliatory
steps against Washington’s missile shield plans in Europe, and
ridiculed a Pentagon missile defense cooperation offer to Russia.
Speaking Friday ahead of a summit of the Group of Eight leading
industrialized nations, Vladimir Putin said the United States’ mooted
missile bases in Europe would be part of the U.S. nuclear arsenal and
that Russia could be forced to aim its nuclear weapons at Europe.
"If part of the U.S.’ strategic nuclear arsenal is located in Europe
and our military experts find that it poses a threat to Russia, we will
have to take appropriate retaliatory steps," he said "We will have new
targets in Europe."
Putin also said Washington’s cooperation proposals to Russia in the
sphere of missile defense were limited to one unreasonable offer that
Russia provide its missiles for target practice.
"Our American partners want us to provide them with our missiles as
targets, so that they can conduct exercises using our missiles. This is
just brilliant. What a great idea they’ve thought up."
Russia has responded angrily to U.S. plans, announced in January, to
deploy interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar base in the Czech
Republic to counter possible missiles attacks from Iran and North
Korea.
At the news conference, Putin dismissed Washington’s justification for
the planned missile shield as ungrounded, saying the two countries did
not have long-range missiles capable of reaching Europe, and that the
system, which was "designed as protection against something that does
not exist," "changes the configuration of international security."
The Russian president is set to meet with U.S. President George W.
Bush, along with the other six G8 leaders at Germany’s Baltic resort of
Heiligendamm, at the G8 summit from June 6 to 8.
Putin condemned Washington’s lack of multilateral consultation on the
issue.
"We have heard talk of European solidarity… Two countries, the Czech
Republic and Poland, made a decision to deploy the missile defense
elements on their territories. They say it is needed for Europe’s
protection. Has anyone asked Europe? Has there been any pan-European
decision?" Putin said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier urged a broad discussion on the
issue, involving Russia.
Russia tested a new ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple
nuclear warheads and a new cruise missile last week, saying the tests
were part of Moscow’s response to the U.S. anti-missile plans.
Putin said Russia would not deploy an anti-missile base in Cuba, its
close ally in Soviet times, in response to the U.S. missile plans, and
did not rule out that Washington might drop the plans.
"We do not want confrontation, we want cooperation; we do not need
bases near any country," he said.