Russia should not seek new weapons to counter nonexistent threats from the West, and would be better off spending the money on social and economic development, NATO's secretary general said on Tuesday. "Unfortunately, I have seen public pronouncements that Russia might consider spending billions of rubles on a new offensive system to target the West," Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said, dismissing Russian threats of new weapons to challenge NATO's European missile defense plans.
"Let me put it bluntly: this type of statement is unnecessary. Because Russia is not threatened from the West," he said at the Kuznetsov Naval Academy in St. Petersburg. "This type of investment is a waste of money. Because the money is better spent on economic development, on modernization, and on job creation."
The statement came a day after a NATO-Russia Council meeting in Russia's Black Sea resort city of Sochi, which focused on the creation of the European missile defense system and opportunities for cooperation between Russia and the alliance on the issue.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov admitted after the talks that NATO would not agree on Russia's proposal for a so-called sectoral missile defense system in Europe. The alliance insists on establishing two independent systems that exchange information.
Russia and NATO agreed to cooperate on the European missile defense system at the Lisbon Summit in November 2010. Under a proposal put forward by President Dmitry Medvedev, Russia would be responsible for shooting down missiles aimed at NATO members but passing through Russia's airspace or sector, with NATO members committing to protect Russia in a similar fashion.
NATO has also refused to provide legally binding guarantees that its missiles would not be directed against Russia, which Moscow says is the only way to prevent a new arms race.
Russia has also threatened to withdraw from the New START treaty on cutting U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals in response to NATO's stance, as well as to create a new air and space defense system and enhance its offensive potential at western borders to avert a possible missile threat.
Rasmussen has pledged to continue dialogue with Russia on the issue and search for common grounds in order to "enhance transparency" and "create greater trust and confidence."

RIA NOVOSTI

The U.S. Navy cruiser Monterey anchored in the Romanian southeastern Passenger Berth of the Port of Constanta on the Black Sea within the NATO European missile shield project, Romania news agency Actmedia said on Tuesday.
"The cruiser's visit to the Port of Constanta is part of the permanent efforts of the U.S. Navy in strengthening the partnership with the Romanian Navy and of increasing interoperability in the Black Sea area," the U.S. Embassy to Romania was quoted as saying by the agency.
The Monterey is holding its first appearance within the project. It is equipped with the AEGIS air defense system and missiles.
"Moreover, the USS Monterey cruiser is equipped with the AEGIS air defense system that represents the first stage of the adaptive phase approach of the anti-missile shield, an important element to Romania, which agreed to host interceptors within the second phase of the program."
The cruiser will stay in Romania until Thursday.
Russia and NATO agreed to cooperate on the so-called European missile shield during the NATO-Russia Council summit in Lisbon in November 2010. NATO insists there should be two independent systems that exchange information, while Russia favors a joint system.
Russia is opposed to the planned deployment of U.S. missile defense systems near its borders, claiming they would be a security threat. The U.S. is reluctant to provide legally binding guarantees that the system will not be directed against Russia.

MOSCOW, June 7 (RIA Novosti)

RIA NOVOSTI

 NATO secara tegas menolak proposal Rusia mengenai rencana aliansi militer Barat untuk menggelar sebuah sistem rudal kontroversial di Eropa Timur.
Moskow menyatakan bersedia untuk mencabut penentangannya terhadap instalasi sistem rudal, jika NATO memberikan jaminan hukum bahwa rudal itu tidak akan digunakan terhadap Rusia.
"Jalan yang paling menjanjikan menuju kepercayaan yang lebih besar adalah memperbanyak diskusi dan pertukaran pandangan," kata Sekjen NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen dalam sebuah wawancara dengan kantor berita Interfax pada Selasa (7/6).
Rasmussen mengesampingkan formula hukum rumit, yang akan sulit untuk disetujui dan diratifikasi antara negara-negara anggota NATO dan Rusia.
Penolakan itu muncul menjelang pertemuan Dewan Rusia-NATO di Brussels pada hari Rabu (8/6), di mana Menteri Pertahanan Rusia Anatoly Serdyukov akan berusaha untuk meyakinkan Barat guna menandatangani perjanjian kerjasama yang mengikat secara hukum.
Moskow menginginkan rincian tentang jumlah maksimum dan jenis rudal pencegat, kecepatan mereka serta lokasi rudal dan radar, yang akan ditetapkan dalam perjanjian.
Rasmussen menekankan bahwa ekspansi NATO ke timur tidak akan mengancam kepentingan Rusia, tetapi sebaliknya, proses itu sendiri akan bermanfaat bagi keamanan Euro-Atlantik, termasuk Federasi Rusia.
"Saya juga bisa menjamin Anda (Rusia). Saya telah mengatakan itu secara terbuka pada banyak kesempatan bahwa NATO tidak akan pernah menyerang Rusia dan kami yakin Moskow juga punya pandangan yang sama tentang NATO," katanya. (IRIB/RM)

IRIB