U.S. SET TO CONSIDER RUSSIA'S PROPOSAL OVER DEFENCE SYSTEM FOR EUROPE

The US is ready to consider Russia's proposal on creating the non-strategic European NMD system, Rear Admiral Craig Quigley, Pentagon spokesman is quoted as saying Tuesday. He pointed out that if Russians have a reasonable proposal which may be useful in protecting Europe from a missile attack and from mass destruction weapons, “let's consider it and think where we can cooperate,” RIA Novosti reports. Commenting on the proposal on creating the European NMD system, which Russian defence minister Marshal Igor Sergeyev handed over to NATO Secretary General George Robertson last Tuesday, Admiral Quigley stressed that Pentagon is glad to hear that Russians admit the existence of the missile attack threat and the possibility of using mass destruction weapons in Europe. At the same time, he pointed out that this proposal does not concern the protection of the US territory and does not ensure national anti-missile defence of the United States. The Pentagon representative also stressed that the Russian proposal is not aimed at splitting the US and Europeans on the NMD issues.