MOSCOW. June 21 (Interfax) - Russia will offer a response "at the strategic level" if the United States goes ahead with its plans to deploy elements of its missile defense system in Europe, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov threatened in Moscow on Thursday.

"I do not think that it is accidental that a planned anti-missile base in Europe smoothly fits into the structure of the global U.S. missile defense system deployed, whether accidentally or not, along the perimeter of the Russian borders. Of course, we should take it into consideration," he said.

"There is no doubt a response to this strategic challenge will be given at the strategic level as well," the minister said.

"Russia would prefer joint work, which was proposed by President Vladimir Putin at a meeting with President George W. Bush in Heiligendamm," he said.

"A collective project that would involve all interested countries, primarily European nations, and use the Gabala radar station in Azerbaijan with the consent of its government would make the deployment of elements of the U.S. missile defense system (in Eastern Europe) unnecessary. This project is quite controversial and could upset the strategic stability," Lavrov said.

Asked what Russia will do if the United States rejects the proposal to jointly use the Gabala radar, the minister said that "it will only further reinforce our conviction that the creation of a theater missile defense in Europe was not meant to counter threats coming from Iran."

Attempts to "deter Russia" can also be seen in the situation surrounding the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE), the minister said.

It is regrettable that an emergency conference on CFE problems, which was held in Vienna at Russia's initiative, was fruitless, Lavrov said. "This entire situation points to an attempt to reproduce bloc- oriented instincts and approaches and to return to some a 'zero sum game' logic," he said.

"The situation with the CFE Treaty is a good example showing that any element of the global and European security architecture that is not based on the principles of equality and mutual benefit cannot be strong," the minister said.

A special session of the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation will be held in October at the initiative of Russia, France and Germany to discuss ways to improve confidence-building measures and control over weapons, Lavrov said.

"I am convinced that broader debates are needed than only a proposal to exchange arguments around the dying CFE Treaty. But I assure you we do not want to bury it. The door will remain open," the minister said.

"As soon as the treaty is ratified by our partners from NATO member-countries, we will certainly fulfill our obligation in compliance with the adapted CFE Treaty, which has already been ratified by Russia," he said.