Mikhail Kamynin, the Spokesman of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Answers a Question from ITAR-TASS Regarding US Intention to Deploy Elements of Its National Missile Defense System in Poland and Czech Republic

Unofficial translation from Russian

Question:  How could you comment on reports that the US administration has officially approached the leaderships of Poland and the Czech Republic for placement in these countries of elements of the so called third position area of a US missile defense system?

Answer:  We have been watching developments.  The negative attitude of Russia to the United States' intention to deploy in Central Europe the so called third position area of the US MDS is no secret.

The creation of a US European antimissile base can only be regarded as a substantial reconfiguration of the American military presence in Europe.  Whatever the case made that this base is not directed against Russia and that it is meant to deal with WMD proliferation and counter a nuclear threat from Asian directions, we cannot fail to see the fact of the consistent imparting to US armed forces in this region of a strategic component.

Such a base near our borders will be a factor which we will have to consider in determining Russian moves in the military-political sphere and in practical military building as well.

In all circumstances we believe that plans for the creation of a US missile system in Europe are a mistaken step with negative consequences for international security.  All these questions will be a subject of our most serious analysis and discussion with the United States and its partners.

As to countering the threat of the spread of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery vehicles, we believe that there are more optimal action schemes, primarily based on working out multilateral political approaches.

January 26, 2007