New START restores strategic stability and balance between US and RF

WASHINGTON, February 17 (Itar-Tass) --The New START treaty between the
United States and Russia restores strategic stability and balance on both
sides, Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security
Ellen Tauscher said.
In her opinion, the signing of the treaty signifies a common approach
on both sides.
Speaking of missile defence, she said it would offer advantages not
only to the U.S. but also to its NATO partners and Russia.
Tauscher expressed confidence that Russia and the U.S. would be able
to work in this filed without intimidating each other.
She said earlier that the New START Treaty, signed by U.S. President
Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Prague on April 8,
2010, would not constrain U.S. missile defence programmes.
"The new START Treaty does not constrain U.S. missile defence
programs. The United States will continue to improve our missile defences,
as needed, to defend ourselves, our deployed forces, and our allies and
partners," Tauscher said.
She noted that Russia's unilateral statement on a possible secession
from the treaty if the U.S. missile defence threatens its security "is not
an integral part of the New START Treaty. It's not legally-binding. It
won' t constrain U.S. missile defence programmes."
Tauscher said the United States would deploy "the most effective
missile defences possible, and the New START Treaty does not impose any
additional cost or inconvenience to those efforts".
She also said the U.S. was open to Russia's participation in any NATO
missile defence architecture.
Russia will accept NATO's proposal to create a joint missile defence
system if it's a serious proposal, President Dmitry Medvedev said earlier.
"If this is a serious proposal, we can [say yes to NATO's offer of
cooperation with Russia in the creation of a common missile defence system
not only for Europe but for Russia and Europe]," he said.