Unlimited ABM deployment may undermine global efforts on disarmament, - Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrey Nesterenko said.
Even a layman understands that these words concern the US and NATO, especially as they were said on the day of Hillary Clinton's official visit to Moscow. She arrived for talks with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the new START Treaty limiting strategic offensive weapons. Lavrov could have expressed Moscow's concerns about the US ABMs in person but official statements did nothing of the kind. The parties, on the contrary, expressed their satisfaction with the work on START and promised its signing soon.
However, Nestrenko's statement couldn't be accidental. It was to once again underline Moscow's concerns with US ABM plans. These concerns are evident as offensive and defensive strategic weapons are closely interrelated. On the one hand, there is considerable progress in the working out of the START Treaty, but on the other, the US plans to deploy its ABMs in Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria. Thus, the Foreign Ministry spokesman reminded Washington that if it begins to implement its plans, Russia will have to respond.
This statement is also timely after Hillary Clinton said that START and ABMs should be considered separately. Still, Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev signed a document about direct interdependence between offensive and defensive weapons during their last summer's summit. This position has to be reflected in the new START Treaty. At the same time Russia's proposals on the joint ABM system in Europe featuring the US and NATO is still valid. Moscow is open for cooperation in this delicate sphere and believes that US ABM plans shouldn't hinder bilateral relations and nuclear non-proliferation.
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