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French Defense Minister Due in Moscow for National Missile Defense Talks
French Defense Minister Alain Richard will visit Moscow this week to discuss U.S. plans for a controversial national missile defense and a theater defense system for Europe, Interfax news agency said on Jan.13.
Russia strongly opposes the U.S. drive to build a protective shield over its territory which, if successful, will make it invulnerable to missile attacks.European nations, including France, have also expressed reservations.
"The issue of missile defense will be particularly addressed, including U.S. plans to deploy a National Missile Defense (NMD) and a Theatre Missile Defense (TMD) in Europe," Interfax quoted a Defense Ministry spokesman as saying.
Richard will arrive in Moscow on Jan.16 and will meet his Russian counterpart, Igor Sergeyev. He is scheduled to leave Russia on Jan 17, the spokesman said.
Other subjects on the agenda will include bilateral cooperation, relations between Russia and NATO, the situation in the Balkans and nuclear non-proliferation, he said.
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