NATO unhappy with Russia’s proposals on anti-missile defence

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia and NATO may yield considerable military and political benefits from cooperation in anti-missile defence, however no snap results should be expected, according to NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. “The potential for cooperation is great. From military viewpoint, benefit from enhanced cooperation and transparency would be substantial. From political view point, agreement on anti- missile defence could fundamentally change our vision of each other and the way we work with each other,” said Rasmussen at the threshold of the Russia-NATO Council sitting to be held July 4 in Sochi. At the same time the Secretary General stressed that “this is a difficult dialogue on sensitive problems. Therefore, no snap results should be expected. Time is needed for due treatment, for giving responses to all parties involved.”

NATO Secretary-General gave to understand that the alliance is unhappy with Russia’s “sectoral approach” on anti-missile defence offered during November last year summit in Liasbon, which stands for an idea that anti-missile systems of Russia and NATO must be directed at exclusively outside total area, each protecting its direction, “shielding back” of one another. Explaining the Alliance stand, Rasmussen emphasized that “NATO has liabilities to provide all its country members’ security. And we cannot commission these liabilities to someone else. Thus, I do not think Russia would want to transmit its authorities in ensuring its own safety to NATO,” according to ITAR TASS.