US, Russia end up first round of talks on missile defense system

US, Russia end up first round of talks on missile defense system
# 01 August 2007 07:57 (UTC +04:00)
Military and political officials from both sides discussed proposals for cooperation on an issue that has become the greatest source of tension in deteriorating U.S.-Russian relations.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State John Rood said Russia recently accepted a U.S. invitation to view U.S. missile interceptors at a base in Alaska. The invitation and briefing were intended to answer Russian concerns about U.S. missile defense plans.
“I think there is a significantly better understanding on the Russian side about why we are pursuing a missile defense capability”, Rood said after the presentation.
The United States has rejected Russian assertions that U.S. plans to build a radar system in the Czech Republic and station interceptors in Poland pose a threat to Russia’s nuclear deterrent. The United States has said the system is aimed at countering missile threats from Iran and North Korea.
Russia has suggested that the United States share the use of a mammoth Russian-leased radar installation in Azerbaijan and a second radar in southern Russia, But they have said that the United States should wait to build an interceptor site until it had determined that Iran was nearing the capability of launching nuclear missiles.
While U.S. officials believe the Russian radar systems are incapable of directing interceptor missiles, Rood said they view Putin’s offer as an opening./APA/
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THE OPERATION IS BEING PERFORMED