December
06-03-2007, 08:52 PM
Putin warns Europe in missile row
Mr Putin says US missile defence plans may spark another arms race
Moscow may target weapons at Europe if the US builds planned missile defence facilities in the region, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.
Russia has not pointed missiles towards Europe since the end of the Cold War.
Last week, Russia said it had tested a ballistic missile to maintain "strategic balance" in the world.
The US wants to expand its missile defences into Eastern Europe. It says the system is not aimed at Russia but Moscow says its security is threatened.
READ MORE -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6717119.stm
Putin threatens to target Europe with missiles
In an interview with the Globe and Mail, Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to target Europe with missiles, including potentially nuclear weapons, in a dramatic escalation of his Cold War-style showdown with the United States.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070602.wputin01/BNStory/International/home
http://img.rian.ru/images/5512/46/55124658.jpg
Putin says missile tests were response to NATO's actions
31/ 05/ 2007
MOSCOW, May 31 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's president said Thursday his country's recent tests of new ballistic missiles and possible withdrawal from an arms control treaty are a direct response to harsh, unreasonable actions by NATO countries.
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20070531/66418953.html[hr][b]France urges talks to allay Russian concerns on U.S. shield
04/ 06/ 2007
PARIS, June 4 (RIA Novosti) - France's Foreign Ministry called Monday for in-depth consultations with Russia to dispel concerns over the planned deployment of a U.S. missile defense system in Central and Eastern Europe.
The ministry spokesman, Jean-Baptiste Matei, said the need for such talks was evident following last week's remarks by the Russian president, who threatened "an appropriate response" if the U.S. goes ahead with its plans to deploy missile shields in Poland and the Czech Republic, although, France believes the system poses no real threat to Russia.
"The American plan, in its current form, does not seem to us like a blow to balanced relations between Russia and the U.S.," Matei said. "And proliferation of ballistic missiles, especially in the Middle East, is a very serious issue indeed"
In an interview with Western media Friday, Putin said the prospective missile shield, which may destroy the balance in U.S.-Russian relations and reignite Cold War tensions between the world's two major nuclear powers, would be treated by Moscow as a potential target for its strategic missiles.
Speaking ahead of the June 6-8 summit of the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations in Germany, he said, "If part of the U.S.' strategic nuclear arsenal is deployed in Europe and our military experts find that it poses a threat to Russia, we will have to take appropriate retaliatory steps. We will have new targets in Europe."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier urged for broad discussions of the issue, to involve Russia.
Responding to Putin's remarks Monday, British Prime Minister Tony Blair's office said Europe sought a meaningful relationship with Russia and found Russia's behavior quite unsettling.
"What we want is a constructive relationship, but what the nature of that relationship is as much up to Russia as it is to us."
A NATO spokesman, James Appathurai, described Putin's headline-making remarks as unwelcome, adding that Russia is the only country to contemplate aiming missiles at Europe.
The Russian president is set to meet with his U.S. counterpart, George W. Bush, and the other G8 leaders at Germany's Baltic resort of Heiligendamm at a three-day summit beginning on Wednesday.
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.
Washington intends to install ten interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic, allegedly to protect itself and its European allies against potential strikes from rogue states such as Iran. But Moscow fears that rather than providing protection from the Islamic republic, suspected by the U.S. of pursuing a covert nuclear weapons program, the missile shield in Central Europe will undermine security on the continent, and may unleash a new arms race.
http://en.rian.ru/world/20070604/66658827.html
Mr Putin says US missile defence plans may spark another arms race
Moscow may target weapons at Europe if the US builds planned missile defence facilities in the region, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.
Russia has not pointed missiles towards Europe since the end of the Cold War.
Last week, Russia said it had tested a ballistic missile to maintain "strategic balance" in the world.
The US wants to expand its missile defences into Eastern Europe. It says the system is not aimed at Russia but Moscow says its security is threatened.
READ MORE -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6717119.stm
Putin threatens to target Europe with missiles
In an interview with the Globe and Mail, Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to target Europe with missiles, including potentially nuclear weapons, in a dramatic escalation of his Cold War-style showdown with the United States.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070602.wputin01/BNStory/International/home
http://img.rian.ru/images/5512/46/55124658.jpg
Putin says missile tests were response to NATO's actions
31/ 05/ 2007
MOSCOW, May 31 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's president said Thursday his country's recent tests of new ballistic missiles and possible withdrawal from an arms control treaty are a direct response to harsh, unreasonable actions by NATO countries.
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20070531/66418953.html[hr][b]France urges talks to allay Russian concerns on U.S. shield
04/ 06/ 2007
PARIS, June 4 (RIA Novosti) - France's Foreign Ministry called Monday for in-depth consultations with Russia to dispel concerns over the planned deployment of a U.S. missile defense system in Central and Eastern Europe.
The ministry spokesman, Jean-Baptiste Matei, said the need for such talks was evident following last week's remarks by the Russian president, who threatened "an appropriate response" if the U.S. goes ahead with its plans to deploy missile shields in Poland and the Czech Republic, although, France believes the system poses no real threat to Russia.
"The American plan, in its current form, does not seem to us like a blow to balanced relations between Russia and the U.S.," Matei said. "And proliferation of ballistic missiles, especially in the Middle East, is a very serious issue indeed"
In an interview with Western media Friday, Putin said the prospective missile shield, which may destroy the balance in U.S.-Russian relations and reignite Cold War tensions between the world's two major nuclear powers, would be treated by Moscow as a potential target for its strategic missiles.
Speaking ahead of the June 6-8 summit of the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations in Germany, he said, "If part of the U.S.' strategic nuclear arsenal is deployed in Europe and our military experts find that it poses a threat to Russia, we will have to take appropriate retaliatory steps. We will have new targets in Europe."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier urged for broad discussions of the issue, to involve Russia.
Responding to Putin's remarks Monday, British Prime Minister Tony Blair's office said Europe sought a meaningful relationship with Russia and found Russia's behavior quite unsettling.
"What we want is a constructive relationship, but what the nature of that relationship is as much up to Russia as it is to us."
A NATO spokesman, James Appathurai, described Putin's headline-making remarks as unwelcome, adding that Russia is the only country to contemplate aiming missiles at Europe.
The Russian president is set to meet with his U.S. counterpart, George W. Bush, and the other G8 leaders at Germany's Baltic resort of Heiligendamm at a three-day summit beginning on Wednesday.
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.
Washington intends to install ten interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic, allegedly to protect itself and its European allies against potential strikes from rogue states such as Iran. But Moscow fears that rather than providing protection from the Islamic republic, suspected by the U.S. of pursuing a covert nuclear weapons program, the missile shield in Central Europe will undermine security on the continent, and may unleash a new arms race.
http://en.rian.ru/world/20070604/66658827.html