Russia Defense Minister Pushes Putin Idea For Pan-European Missile Shield

Russia Defense Minister Pushes Putin's Idea For Pan-European Missile Shield

Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev - AFP Library 2000

London (Interfax) Dec. 7, 2000
Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev has thrown his weight behind President Vladimir Putin's idea for the creation of a European non-strategic missile defense system.

Speaking with the Russian press in London, Sergeyev said that "President Vladimir Putin's proposal for the creation of a European tactical missile defense system is aimed at strengthening stability and security in Europe on the basis of multilateral cooperation in this field."

He also said that the goals of this cooperation are the joint prevention of the proliferation of missiles and missile technologies, the neutralization for Russia and the European countries of potential threats of missile attacks, and the strengthening of strategic and regional stability in Europe.

Separetely Russian military officials said Thursday that the U.S. is planning to deploy key elements of its national ballistic missile defense system on British soil if the decision is made to deploy it.

"The analysis of the U.S. plans to deploy the national ballistic missile defense system shows that Great Britain is expected to play an important role in these plans," Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev, told Russian reporters on Thursday in London.

Among other things, Sergeyev said, it is planned that "key elements of this system's infrastructure" will be installed on British territory.

Meanwhile, Russia has welcomed China's decision not to help develop foreign ballistic missiles with Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko saying China's decision to refrain from giving assistance to any countries in developing ballistic missiles capable of serving as nuclear arms delivery vehicles was a welcome sign.

In a statement submitted to Interfax on Wednesday he also positively assessed China's intentions to compile and publish a list of commodities and technologies used in the rocket sphere, including dual-purpose technologies to which export restrictions apply.

"The initiative coincides with the world community's efforts to prevent missile proliferation," Yakovenko said.

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Russian Defense Minister To Discuss Missile Issues With London

Moscow (Interfax) Nov. 20, 2000
Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev will visit Great Britain on December 6-8. During this visit he will discuss the main military and political issues relating to ballistic missile defense, strategic offensive weapons, and global and regional security, Colonel General Leonid Ivashov, the head of the main department for international military cooperation, told the press on Monday.

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