Putin warns Europe in missile row
Mr Putin says US missile defence plans may spark another arms
race
Moscow may target weapons at Europe if the US builds planned
missile defence facilities in the region, Russian President
Vladimir Putin has said.
Russia has not pointed missiles towards Europe since the end of the
Cold War.
Last week, Russia said it had tested a ballistic missile to
maintain "strategic balance" in the world.
The US wants to expand its missile defences into Eastern Europe. It
says the system is not aimed at Russia but Moscow says its security
is threatened.
'Not our fault'
Mr Putin made the comments in an interview published in Italian
newspaper Corriere Della Sera ahead of the G8 meeting which starts
in Germany on Wednesday.
If the American nuclear potential grows in European territory, we
have to give ourselves new targets in Europe
President Vladimir Putin
Gorbachev criticises US
Europe diary: Missile defence
He repeated warnings that the US defence shield could lead to a new
arms race but said it would the fault of the Americans if this
happened.
He said the US had "altered the strategic balance" by unilaterally
pulling out of the anti-ballistic missile (ABM) treaty in
2002.
"If the American nuclear potential grows in European territory, we
have to give ourselves new targets in Europe," Mr Putin said.
"It is up to our military to define these targets, in addition to
defining the choice between ballistic and cruise missiles."
US President George W Bush is due to meet Mr Putin at the three-day
G8 summit in the German resort of Heiligendamm.
Washington wants to deploy interceptor rockets in Poland and a
radar base in the Czech Republic to counter what it describes as a
potential threat from "rogue states" such as Iran and North
Korea.
Last Tuesday, Russia tested an RS-24 missile that successfully
struck its target 5,500km (3,400 miles) away.
It was designed to evade missile defence systems, Russia's defence
ministry said.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6717119.stm
