Moscow: Russia and the US are set to hold
crucial talks on missile defence system and a new arms control
pact to replace Soviet-era START-1 Treaty ahead of a key visit
by the American Secretary of State next week.
Hillary Clinton is arriving here on October 12 on her
first visit to Moscow as US Secretary of State. During the
three-day visit, she will hold talks with her Russian
counterpart Sergei Lavrov to finalise a new arms control pact
to replace START-1 Treaty, which expires on December 5.
According to a Foreign Ministry official, Russia and
the US will hold Deputy Foreign Minister-level consultations
on missile defence in the wake of Obama administration's
decision to drop plans to deploy elements of controversial
missile shield in Poland and Czech Republic.
"I do not rule out that the foreign policy chiefs of
the two countries would be briefed on the first results of our
partner-like dialogue (on missile shield)," Russian Foreign
Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said today.
The official expressed Moscow's readiness to provide
its radars for building a missile shield after the US
administration dropped plans to deploy the controversial
missile shield system in Poland and Czech Republic.
He expressed confidence the missile shield
consultations would be "constructive and dynamic" in the wake
of Obama administration's decision to drop the deployment of
missile shield system in Poland and Czech Republic.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, October 08, 2009, 20:13