In a statement obtained by BosNewsLife News Center in Budapest, the US State Department said the talks Thursday, December 13, will involve a US delegation led by Acting Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, John C. Rood. The Russian delegation was to be led by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak.
Washington says it wants to station the missile defense system in former Soviet satellite nations Poland and the Czech Republic as a deterrence against what it calls "rogue" states such as Iran and North Korea. Moscow says it believes the real aim is to weaken Russia.
Last week in comments to BosNewsLife and other reporters in Budapest, former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev accused the US of "wanting to build an empire" by expanding its military might around the world. Earlier this year Russia’s Duma, or parliament, warned that the US’s plans could ignite a second cold war.
"USELESS DECISIONS"
"Such decisions, which are useless in terms of preventing potential or imaginary threats from countries of the middle and far-east, are already bringing about a new split in Europe and unleashing another arms race," the declaration – passed unanimously by Russian lawmakers said.
However in Saturday’s statement the State Department said the US administration aims to cooperate with Russia on issues such as missile defense. "The United States will continue to discuss its ideas and proposals for US-Russia missile defense cooperation as well as radar cooperation to jointly monitor ballistic missile threats launched out of the Middle East."
It added that "These proposals represent the most far-reaching strategic cooperation ever proposed between our two countries and offer a real strategic partnership on missile defense, including the opportunity to work together on a joint regional missile defense architecture. We believe our proposals are the best way to facilitate the United States, Russia, and NATO working closely together to monitor, and respond to, the common threat posed by the proliferation of ballistic missiles of increasing ranges and sophistication."
RUSSIAN DOUBTS
Yet, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused the US in recent days of backtracking on missile defense cooperation, after Washington withdrew a proposal for constant Russian monitoring of the planned US missile defense facilities. The US also rejected the idea of jointly evaluating threats that would trigger activation of the system, he said.
The gathering in Budapest will be the fourth meeting between senior American and Russian diplomats since American President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Kennebunkport, Maine, on July 2 this year.
Prior meetings were held in Washington, D.C., on July 30, Paris on September 10, and Moscow on October 10, 2007. "The discussions in Budapest on December 13 will be a continuation of those prior meetings and will further elaborate upon the October 12-13, 2007, discussions that
Secretary of State Rice and Secretary of Defense Gates had in Moscow with their Russian counterparts, Foreign Minister Lavrov and Defense Minister Serdyukovm," the State Department said.
During next weeks talks, "The United States will also discuss its offers of transparency and confidence building measures on our proposed missile defense system. We believe our proposals are the best way to facilitate the United States, Russia, and NATO working closely together to monitor, and respond to, the common threat posed by the proliferation of ballistic missiles of increasing ranges and sophistication. (BosNewsLife NEWS WATCH covers hard hitting news stories impacting compassionate professionals and/or the Church worldwide. With BosNewsLife News Center and Research). ALSO READ:
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