Reuters AlertNet Full site
Homepage | Newsdesk | NGO Latest | Crisis briefings | Country profiles | MediaWatch | Jobs | Alerting | Login

NEWSDESK

Medvedev threatens U.S. over missile shield
10 Jul 2009 13:52:35 GMT
Source: Reuters
L'AQUILA, Italy, July 10 (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned the United States on Friday that if it did not reach agreement with Russia on plans for missile defence systems, Moscow would deploy rockets in an enclave near Poland.

In sharp contrast to his positive words during President Barack Obama's visit to Moscow earlier this week when the two reached broad agreement on nuclear arms cuts, Medvedev used a news conference at the G8 summit to return to Russia's earlier tough rhetoric on arms control.

Referring to an order he gave earlier this year to prepare deployment of short-range Russian missiles in the western enclave of Kaliningrad to answer to any U.S. deployment of a missile shield in central Europe, Medvedev said:

"If we don't manage to agree on the issues, you know the consequences. What I said during my state of the nation address has not been revoked."

Medvedev, speaking at the G8, also appeared to change his tone on the missile defence shield itself.

During Obama's visit he told the U.S. leader, using markedly softer language than normal, that "no one is saying that missile defence is harmful in itself or that it poses a threat to someone".

But in Italy on Friday, Medvedev returned to the Kremlin's traditional posture on the system, describing it as "harmful" and "threatening to Russia".

In Moscow, Medvedev and Obama agreed a target for cuts in nuclear arms and a year-end deadline for a reduction deal. Obama praised Medvedev as a "straightforward professional" leader. (Writing by Michael Stott; editing by Ralph Boulton)


AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article       Send comments

NGO latest

•  Time to show your climate credibility, G8 leaders urged
Christian Aid - UK

•  UMCOR Hotline for July 7, 2009
UMCOR - USA

•  G8 must not be allowed to get away with "Italian Job" at L'Aquila summit, warns leading aid agency
World Vision - USA

•  G8 in Italy must prove its relevance
Caritas Internationalis

•  Christian Children's Fund Name Change to ChildFund International Official
CCF - International

MORE >>

Latest news

•  Medvedev threatens U.S. over missile shield

•  World Bank's chief, at G8, cautions on recovery

•  INSTANT VIEW-G8 summit pledges $20 bln to boost food output

•  Death knell tolls for G8, new body seen forming

•  Indian PM worries over slow Pakistan probe into Mumbai

MORE >>
AlertNet news is provided by

Del.icio.us Del.icio.us  |   Digg Digg  |   NewsVine NewsVine  |   Reddit Reddit   
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2009-07-06T221511Z_01_DEN02_RTRIDSP_2_RUSSIA_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/DEN02.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2009-07-06T220916Z_01_DEN01_RTRIDSP_2_OBAMA-RUSSIA_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/DEN01.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2009-07-06T204244Z_01_PEJ01_RTRIDSP_2_CZECH-WEATHER_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/PEJ01.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2009-07-06T203852Z_01_PEJ02_RTRIDSP_2_CZECH-WEATHER_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/PEJ02.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2009-07-06T203721Z_01_PEJ03_RTRIDSP_2_CZECH-WEATHER_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/PEJ03.htm

A man drinks beer as Greenpeace activists use a laser to project the words "Leaders, act save climate" on the bridge outside the Red Square in Moscow, late July 6, 2009. ...



Disclaimers |  Copyright |  Privacy |  Contact Us |  Feedback |  About Us |  RSS XML

Last updated:Fri Jul 10 13:55:36 2009