Russia Has Not Got US Missile Purchase Offer: Ivanov

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said on Wednesday that his country had not received the reported United States offer to buy its missiles as incentives for its consent for the American missile defense plans.

"Russia has not got any offer from the Americans," Ivanov said after meeting his American counterpart Colin Powell. "After getting an offer, we still have to assess it in accordance with the principles of international laws and related regulations."

Richard Boucher, spokesman for the U.S. secretary of state, told the press that Powell did not bring any new proposals to Budapest, referring to the reports that the Bush administration is prepared to offer Russia a series of incentives in an attempt to win its support for the U.S. missile defense plans.

The incentives include the U.S. purchase of Russia's S-300 surface-to-air missiles and co-operation in upgrading Russia's early warning systems.

Ivanov and Powell met for half an hour on Wednesday, mainly focusing on the scheduled summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President George W. Bush as well as the Middle East, Balkan and Afghan issues.

Putin and Bush are scheduled to meet in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on June 16.

"The whole idea of missile defense will be discussed by the presidents," Boucher told reporters.

Powell's spokesman said that the Americans did not come to Budapest with a plan nor did the Americans come for approval of a plan.

The United States' allies in Europe declined on Tuesday to rally behind the American plans for a national missile defense system.

Powell has failed to win support for strong and definitive language in the NATO council document acknowledging a "common threat" from missile attack from terrorists or hostile nations.

NATO foreign ministers, however, conceded to a request by Powell in omitting from the council document any reference to the 1972 anti-ballistic missile treaty (ABM), which prevents the development of national missile defense systems.






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