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Congressman Brings Missile Defence Proposals From Bush
Moscow (AFP) Feb. 19, 2001 A US lawmaker leading a delegation to Russia said Monday he was carrying proposals from President George W. Bush on cooperation in the field of anti-missile defence, Russian news agencies reported. Republican Congressman Curt Weldon said he had a letter for Russian President Vladimir Putin that contained a proposal for joint research into an anti-missile defence system, according to the reports. "The message contains a proposal on joint development of a missile defence system," ITAR-TASS news agency said. The news agency added that Russia and the United States could conduct joint research into aspects of missile defence, place orders with Russian enterprises for the production of equipment and create in the future a joint missile defence control system. Weldon was not immediately available to confirm the report, which was also carried by RIA-Novosti. The US embassy also could not be contacted. The congressman was quoted by ITAR-TASS as saying that the United States was ready to conduct negotiations with Russia over collaborating in collective missile defence. If this information was confirmed, it would mark the first time that Washington has offered to address Russia's fierce opposition to a planned US missile shield. Bush made support for a national missile defence scheme (NMD) one of his key campaign pledges, but it is strongly opposed by Russia, China and several European countries including France and Germany which have voiced concerns. The 60-billion-dollar-project is designed to protect US territory from attack by hostile nations such as Iran, Iraq or North Korea by tracking missiles and shooting them down before they hit US soil. But Moscow says it violates the cornerstone 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty and has warned that it will tear up existing arms control accords if the United States presses ahead unilaterally with the scheme. Russia in June last year made a rival proposal for the European Union and NATO to join forces with it and set up a joint anti-missile shield. Weldon's eight-strong congressional delegation is in Moscow at the invitation of the pro-Putin party Edinstvo (Unity). All rights reserved. � 2001 Agence France-Presse. All information displayed on this section (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse. CommunityEmail This Article Comment On This Article Related Links SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express Military Space News at SpaceWar.com
Canada To Seek International Pact Banning Weapons In Space
Ottawa (AFP) Jan 11, 2006Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin will seek an international pact to ban weapons in space if his Liberals are returned to power in a January 23 election, according to the party platform. |
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