Russia Sees No Point To More US Missile Talks: Report

Russia Sees No Point To More US Missile Talks: Report (NSI News Source Info) Moscow - October 22, 2008: Russia sees no point in pursuing missile defence talks with the United States until Washington comes up with new proposals, a senior Russian official told the Interfax news agency on Tuesday. Moscow "simply doesn't see the point of continuing the same thing. It's necessary to move forward," said Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, referring to a series of consultations already held between Moscow and Washington over the United States' controversial missile defence plans. "Currently we are waiting for the United States to firm up the measures of trust and transparency it envisages at US missile defence installations in eastern Europe," Ryabkov said. He added that he saw little chance of progress prior to next month's US presidential polls. Previous consultations had brought "no kind of progress.... We gave the Americans several questions but haven't received answers," Ryabkov said. Russia and the United States have held a series of talks intended to assuage Russian concerns about the facilities Washington plans to install in eastern Europe -- a group of interceptor rockets in Poland and a linked radar in the Czech Republic. Last week the US ambassador to Moscow, John Beyrle, said expert talks between Russia and the United States on the missile shield plans would take place this month. Russia has said the proposed facilities would directly threaten its security because of their location relatively close to Russia's borders. The United States insists the facilities are not directed against Russia, being incapable of protecting against Russia's vast arsenal, but are intended as protection against "rogue states" such as Iran. Measures mooted to address Russian concerns include some degree of access to the facilities by Russian inspectors.

Russia and the United States have held a series of talks intended to assuage Russian concerns about the facilities Washington plans to install in eastern Europe -- a group of interceptor rockets in Poland and a linked radar in the Czech Republic.