RNC in Brussels to discuss RF stand on European ABM

MOSCOW, May 4 (Itar-Tass) - The Russia-NATO Council (RNC) at the level
of the Chiefs of the General Staff (CGS) meets in Brussels on Wednesday to
discuss Russia's stand on the building of a European anti-ballistic
missile (ABM) defence system.
An officer in the Russian Defence Ministry press-service and
information department has told Itar-Tass, "While in Brussels, General of
the Army Nikolai Makarov, CGS of the Armed Forces of the Russian
Federation (RF) and First Deputy Minister of Defence, will take part in a
regular session of the RNC at CGS level".
" In accordance with the agenda, participants in the session will
discuss the state of and prospects for the development of Russia-NATO
cooperation in the light of the decisions of the Lisbon summit of the RNC
and Russia's stand, set out at the RNC summit, on the building of a
European ABM system, and exchange views on current problems of ensuring
regional and international security. It is planned that the Russian CGS
will hold bilateral talks at the headquarters of the North Atlantic
Alliance with Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, Chairman of the NATO Military
Committee," the RF Defence Ministry officer said.
Lieutenant General Oleg Ostapenko, Commander of the RF Space Defence
Forces (SDF), specified in his remarks made in recent days that in the
event of the creation of a common ABM system in conjunction with NATO,
Russia could ensure the protection of the eastern part of Europe. He said
the essence of the Russian initiative is to divide a EuroABM system into
sectors.
"It is suggested that certain sectors of territory be assigned to NATO
and Russia. In those sectors, each side would undertake to detect and
destroy attacking ballistic missiles". In the process, "a decision about
the use of ABM means must be made according to common rules, within the
framework of a common information space", Ostapenko said.
"Proceeding from the geographical position of our country, we can
ensure anti-missile protection of the eastern part of Europe as well as
the areas of the Black, Baltic, and Barents Seas," he added.
Ostapenko's opinion is that the establishment of a joint ABM system is
advantageous both to Russia and Europe, for, "first, reasons that cause
Russia's concern over the anti-Russia potential of the future ABM system
in Europe will be removed, and the ABM means of other countries in the
territory where Russian anti-missile protection is ensured will be
superfluous".
Besides, the SDF Commander pointed out, "Cooperation in this respect
will enable all parties to the project to cut expenditure on ABM purposes,
since the deployment of Russian ABM means will substantially reduce the
territory which NATO earlier planned to protect on its own".
"Foundation will be also furnished for the development of
technological cooperation on both a multilateral basis and with individual
countries (on a bilateral one)," Ostapenko said.