U.S., Russia to discuss missile defense effort
American and Russian diplomats plan to meet Thursday in Hungary to discuss cooperation on a missile defense system.
Leading the U.S. delegation in Budapest will be John C. Rood, secretary of State for arms control and international security. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak will head the Russian contingent.
The United States will continue to discuss its ideas for cooperating with Russia on a missile defense system that President Bush wants to deploy in former Soviet satellite nations in Eastern Europe, according to a State Department announcement Saturday.
Russia’s foreign minister accused the United States last week of backtracking on proposals for missile defense cooperation. Sergey Lavrov detailed Russian allegations that Washington had gone back on compromises reached when he met with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in October.
The United States has withdrawn a proposal for constant Russian monitoring of planned U.S. missile defense facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic, and has rejected the idea of jointly evaluating threats, he said.
The administration says the installations in the two nations -- now NATO members -- would counter a looming Iranian threat. Moscow disputes Washington’s contention and says that it believes the real aim is to weaken Russia.
This week’s meeting will be the fourth on the issue since Bush and Russian President Vladimir V. Putin held talks in Kennebunkport, Maine, in July.
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