Russian leader orders countermeasures against NATO missile shieldMarch 20, 2012 - 16:51 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia’s outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev said the country must be prepared to respond by 2017-2018 to deployment of a missile shield in Europe, RIA Novosti reported. Negotiations between Russia and Western nations on the U.S.-led missile defense project have deadlocked over the West's reluctance to give Moscow guarantees the project would not threaten Russia’s security. But Medvedev said Russia remains willing to continue discussions. “We have not closed the door and are holding conferences and talking about this with our partners,” he told Russian Defense Ministry officials in Moscow. “But we must be fully prepared by 2017-18… for a response.” Russian Defense Ministry Anatoly Serdyukov said Russia was ready to explain its position at an international missile defense conference due in Moscow in May. “We are ready to specify our position at the international conference on missile defense in Moscow on May 3-4,” Serdyukov said. He also said his ministry had started working on a possible military response to the NATO project as instructed by the president in November. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | U.S. believes peace is “possible” in South Caucasus The United States continues to believe that peace is possible in the South Caucasus, Vedant Patel said. Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. |