Moscow hopes to reach an agreement on missile defense with the U.S., Russia`s foreign minister said Friday in an interview with TV network Vesti 24.
"What we have so far, is an agreement to arrange a meeting between the Russian and U.S. presidents to discuss this issue. There is an agreement to set up a joint working group, and we will do our best to convert these contacts into results," Sergei Lavrov said.
"I am convinced that the commander-in-chief, the General Staff, and the Defense Ministry will do everything to make us feel confident about Russia`s security," he said.
"The U.S. is convinced that Iran is a threat; we are ready to prove - using the radar if necessary - that these fears are unwarranted," the Russian minister said.
Answering the question on what measures Russia is ready to take if no agreement with the U.S. is reached, Lavrov said:
"The Russian President has made it clear that [what was said] was not a threat or political stunt. It is a military planners` job to make appropriate decisions as the strategic architecture in other countries changes," Lavrov said.
U.S. President George W. Bush invited Vladimir Putin to his father`s house at Kennebunkport, Maine, on July 1-2. Putin`s aide Igor Shuvalov has said the meeting is not expected to bring any decisive results on missile defense.
sections: Politics, World News |