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#17 - JRL 2009-109 - JRL Home
Russia hopes to reach missile defense agreement with U.S. - diplomat

MOSCOW. June 11 (Interfax) - Moscow hopes to agree on missile defense with the United States, Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko told a press briefing in Moscow on Thursday.

"We hope to reach an understanding and a mutually acceptable decision on missile defense, which will take into account our joint evaluation of missile threats and strengthen the security of our countries, partners and allies," he said.

Russia holds this dialog with the United States in the spirit of respect and plans to be realistic, he said.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said on Wednesday that the United States and Russia might take joint steps, which would launch partnership of the United States, Russia, Poland and the Czech Republic in the deployment of the third missile area, Nesterenko said.

"You must admit that we cannot be partners in the construction of facilities, which are actually meant to counteract Russian strategic deterrence forces," he noted.

"No one does anything against one's own interests, that is an axiom," Nesterenko said.

"We have told U.S. representatives about this attitude many times and at different levels," he said.