Medvedev warns of new Cold War

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday, May 18, warned the West it would face a new Cold War if it failed to address Russia's concerns over a proposed missile defense shield for Europe.

Medvedev told reporters that the U.S. decision to push ahead with construction of the missile defense system despite Russia's objections will force Moscow "to take retaliatory measures - something that we would very much rather not do."

"We would then be talking about developing the offensive potential of our nuclear capabilities. This would be a very bad scenario."

According to AFP, the Russian leader also reaffirmed any earlier threat to pull out of the new START disarmament agreement that entered into force this year if the missile shield is deployed and operated without the Kremlin's input.

"This would be a very bad scenario. It would be a scenario that throws us back into the Cold War era."

Medvedev demanded a legally-binding assurance from the United States that this will never happen - a safeguard that Moscow says Washington is refusing to give.

NATO has thus far invited Russia to voice its concerns in formal meetings but refused to provide Moscow with a formal role in the shield's operation that it seeks.

"We would like to see missile defense develop under clear rules," Medvedev said in the first broad-ranging press conference of his three-year presidency.

Medvedev said he understood the United States' argument that the shield was not aimed at Russia but rather nations such as Iran.

But he argued that such nations do not yet have the capacity to launch nuclear weapons at the West.

"That means it is aimed against us," said Medvedev.

"And if not, invite us to cooperate" in the shield's deployment and operation, the Russian leader said.