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Russia slams U.S. missile plans

Vladimir Radyuhin

Sees threat to global security

MOSCOW . Russia voiced strong objections to a U.S. plan to deploy ballistic missile intercepters in Eastern Europe and warned Washington of "negative consequences".

"The establishment of a U.S. anti-missile base in Europe cannot be regarded otherwise than a substantial reconfiguration of the American military presence in Europe," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin on Friday.

He was commenting on reports that Washington was about to begin formal talks with the Czech Republic and Poland on the deployment.

Washington says it needs the missiles to stop attacks by states like Iran or North Korea. It plans to build a radar station in the Czech Republic and to site interceptors in Poland. Rejecting U.S. claims that the missiles would not pose a threat to Russia's fleet of intercontinental ballistic missiles, the spokesman said: "We cannot fail to see that the U.S. armed forces in the region are consistently being given a strategic dimension."

Denouncing the proposed missile siting as a "mistaken step fraught with negative consequences for international security," Mr. Kamynin warned of Russia's military and political reaction.

"The establishment of such a base near our borders will be factored by us in planning military and political steps, as well as practical armed forces development."

The commander of Russia's space forces has earlier said the U.S. defence shield would pose a "clear threat" to his country.

"It's doubtful that Iranian or North Korean rockets would go across Poland or the Czech Republic," Gen. Vladimir Popovkin told a press conference.

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