Defense minister says US missile shield targets Russia.

WASHINGTON, September 17 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia and the United States
agreed to discuss US plans to deploy a missile shield in Europe, but
Moscow reiterated fears it is aimed against it.
"At the talks with (US Defense Secretary) Robert Gates we agreed to
set up a three-tier system of interaction related to the missile shield
problem," Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Thursday. He
said the system begins with experts and goes up to the chiefs-of-staff and
then to defense ministers. If all the three tiers disagree "the presidents
will make a political decision."
Serdyukov stressed contradictions in principle remain.
"They tell us their missile shield is not aimed against us, but we
tell them our calculations show it is aimed against us," the minister said
and proposed "to begin with assessing missile threats."
"Let's together analyze and assess them and decided where they come
from. Only after that it is possible to decide how to counter the threats
and whether it is necessary to deploy missile shield elements in the
planned regions or other options may be found," Serdyukov said.
The minister said Russia wants to participate in the creation of a
reliable missile shield. "In reality we want to actively participate in
it. As missile shield objects are deployed on the European territory it
shall not happen without our participation. We shall directly participate
in missile shield construction."
Serdyukov recalled that Chief-of-Staff of the Russian armed forces
Nikolai Makarov visited Washington in April. "It was decided to set up a
taskforce on missile defense issues. It should exchange opinions on
missile threats, assess them and provide recommendations on missile
defense architecture: where, how many and which technical means shall
accomplish missile defense tasks," he said.