Russian FM Slams U.S. Planned Missile Shield

Source: Al-Manar TV, 26-12-2007
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has complained that Washington disregarded Moscow's concerns over the planned deployment of U.S. anti-ballistic missile (ABM) components in Central Europe, Itar-Tass news agency reported on Tuesday.
"The ABM negotiations were hard. We seem to share the goal of strategic stability and missile non-proliferation, but the US methods disregard Russian concerns," Lavrov said. Washington initiated plans at the beginning of this year to deploy a radar station in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in Poland, claiming it will prevent potential missile attacks from Iran.
Moscow has repeated its opposition to such a system, saying it will weaken its deterrence and undermine strategic balance. The two rivals have held several talks on the issue but failed to record any breakthrough. "We have serious reports, which say that the system will deter Russia instead of neutralizing hypothetical threats from Iran," the top Russian diplomat said.