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Russia Proposes "Political Umbrella" Against Missile Threats
Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev proposed Tuesday to his U.S. counterpart that the two countries jointly set up a "political umbrella" to prevent missile threats.
This umbrella would make the proposed U.S. national missile defense system unnecessary, Sergeyev told reporters following his meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen.
Washington is seeking revisions to the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM) to pave the way for its planned national missile defense program, but Sergeyev said that Russia believes the treaty cannot be updated without violating it.
Sergeyev, quoted by the Interfax news agency, said the "umbrella" should be built on mutual understanding and commitments that must be covered by a verification system.
It would be more efficient, less expensive and less dangerous as far as infringement on the interests of others is concerned, he said.
The umbrella "will serve the interests of numerous countries and strategic stability and be in place for a long time," the minister said.
Russia had earlier proposed a joint Russia-U.S. missile defense system, but Washington is lukewarm to the proposal.
Cohen also met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. Putin emphasized the importance of continuing bilateral contacts, especially between the defense agencies and in the area of international security, Interfax reported.
"Such contacts are needed to build confidence and create a favorable background for cooperation between Russia and the United States in bilateral relations and on the international scene," the Kremlin press service quoted Putin as saying.
Putin reiterated "the essential importance of preventing steps that could undermine the 1972 ABM Treaty and the strategic stability in the world," the press service said.
During the meeting, which was attended also by Sergeyev, the two sides discussed Moscow's initiative on setting up a European anti-missile defense system.
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