Putin: US missile shield to raise risks

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-28-2007 09:38

Russia's President Vladimir Putin speaks to media after his meeting with his Czech counterpart Vaclav Klaus in Moscow's Kremlin, April 27, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

President Vladimir Putin is strongly criticizing US plans to deploy a missile shield in Eastern Europe.

He warns it will threaten Russia's national security, and dramatically change the defense and security structure on the European continent. He also says Russia will take "appropriate measures" to counter the system. David Rathbun has the story.

The Russian President made the remarks after a Kremlin meeting with Czech President Vaclav Klaus on Friday. Putin says the U.S. plan to base 10 missile intercepters in Poland and radar in the Czech Republic from 2012 will be used to track Russian military activities. And he warns the US proposal will raise unnecessary risks.

Putin said, "The threat of causing mutual damage, or maybe even destruction, of course will continue greatly. I want to stress it again, this is not just a defence shield, it is part of the U.S. nuclear arsenal, an indispensable part of a strategic nuclear weapons system."

Meanwhile, the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso says Putin's recent call to freeze Moscow's commitments under the "Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty" -- sends the WRONG signal. But he also says member states hope to work with Russia to maintain the regional strategic balance.

Barroso said, "We in European Commission, we stay firmly interested in developing a constructive, positive, strategic relation with Russia. Of course there are sometimes some difficulties, but I believe that we can deal with those difficulties in this global, positive, and constructive framework."

But top Russian politicians say the U.S. plan could disrupt European stability and fuel a new Cold War-style arms race.

Editor:Du Xiaodan