calendar>>June 13. 2011 Juch 100

Russian Minister of Defence on Relations with NATO

Moscow, June 11 (KCNA) -- Minister of Defense of Russia Anatoly Serzhukov on June 8 referred to the results of the meeting of ministers of Defence between Russia and the NATO Council. He said that there is confidence between Russia and NATO as regards the issue of missile defence but there are no results.

NATO has not yet paid any heed to the proposals of Russia for the missile defence system but is seeking to establish two independent systems, he said, and went on:

Such insistence of NATO may create such situation where a missile defence system equivalent to the strategic potential of Russia can be established in EU in 2020. In that case Russia should seek a way for surpassing this system.

This will spark a new arms race, he noted, adding this is the stand maintained by the U.S.