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US Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon: â€œUS will continue to support sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Russiaâ€™s neighborsâ€

29 July 2009 11:34 (UTC +04:00)

Gordon said the meeting between president Obama and Medvedev in Moscow on July 4-6 gave positive impetus to the development of US-Russian relations, which were in the dangerous course. The presidents agreed on reduction of at least 30% of the strategic nuclear weapons, route to Afghanistan via Russia and united Information Exchange Center for joint estimation of the threat from Iran, said Gordon.

The Assistant Secretary said shipment to Afghanistan via Russian territory would save 133 million dollars a year. â€œThe President was unequivocal in his message that the â€œresetâ€ in our bilateral relationship will not come at the expense of our friends and allies. More than in words, but in actions, we have demonstrated our commitment to the territorial integrity and independence of Russiaâ€™s neighbors, including Ukraine and Georgia. President Obama made very clear in Moscow that we will continue to support their sovereignty and their right to choose their own security alliances, a message reinforced by the Vice Presidentâ€™s trip to those two countries just last week. The President also stressed, both privately and publicly, Americaâ€™s enduring support for democracy, human rights and the rule of law, said Gordon.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia Policy Celeste Wallander noted that the route to Afghanistan via Russia would provide 4500 military and unlimited commercial flights. â€œThis route will be in addition to others we already use in the region, multiplying our option and increase our flexibility. We will continue to use all available routes to Afghanistan and not become overly dependent on any one of them. We hope to start utilizing the agreement as soon as it enters into force, on or about September 6, 60 days from the date of signingâ€, said Wallander.

â€œThe Department is taking a comprehensive look at our plans for European BMD as a part of the ongoing Ballistic Missile Defense Review. Initial results will likely be available by the fall. We will look to our outcome of that process to guide our next steps. Our decision on how to proceed with missile defense in Europe naturally will be dictated by our own national security interests, taking into account our security commitments to friends and allies, by the nature of threat, and by the cost and technical effectiveness of any proposed missile defense systemsâ€, said the Assistant Secretary of Defense.