Putin warns Europe in missile row

MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow could take ‘retaliatory steps’ if Washington proceeds with plans to build a missile defence system for Europe, including possibly aiming nuclear weapons at targets on the continent.

Speaking to foreign reporters days before he travels to Germany for the annual summit with US President George W Bush and the other Group of 8 leaders, Putin assailed the White House plan to place a radar system in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in neighbouring Poland. Washington says the system is needed to counter a potential threat from Iran.In an interview released yesterday, Putin said neither Iran nor North Korea have the rockets that the system is intended to shoot down, suggesting the system would be used instead against Russia.”We are being told the anti-missile defence system is targeted against something that does not exist.Doesn’t it seem funny to you, to say the least?” an irritated Putin said.He added that the planned missile shield would cover Russia’s territory up to the Ural Mountains.”It would be funny if it wasn’t so sad,” he said.Putin lamented that the planned system would be ‘an integral part of the US nuclear arsenal’ in Europe – an unprecedented step.”It simply changes the entire configuration of international security.”He said he hoped that US officials would change their minds regarding the missile plan, warning that Moscow was preparing a tit-for-tat response.”If this doesn’t happen, then we disclaim responsibility for our retaliatory steps, because it is not we who are the initiators of the new arms race, which is undoubtedly brewing in Europe,” Putin said.”The strategic balance in the world is being upset and in order to restore this balance without creating an anti-missile defence on our territory we will be creating a system of countering that anti-missile system, which is what we are doing now,” Putin said.Last week, Russia tested a new ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads and a new cruise missile.While Western analysts said the system has probably been under development for several years, Putin has described the test as part of Moscow’s response to the US anti-missile plan.Nampa-APWashington says the system is needed to counter a potential threat from Iran.In an interview released yesterday, Putin said neither Iran nor North Korea have the rockets that the system is intended to shoot down, suggesting the system would be used instead against Russia.”We are being told the anti-missile defence system is targeted against something that does not exist.Doesn’t it seem funny to you, to say the least?” an irritated Putin said.He added that the planned missile shield would cover Russia’s territory up to the Ural Mountains.”It would be funny if it wasn’t so sad,” he said.Putin lamented that the planned system would be ‘an integral part of the US nuclear arsenal’ in Europe – an unprecedented step.”It simply changes the entire configuration of international security.”He said he hoped that US officials would change their minds regarding the missile plan, warning that Moscow was preparing a tit-for-tat response.”If this doesn’t happen, then we disclaim responsibility for our retaliatory steps, because it is not we who are the initiators of the new arms race, which is undoubtedly brewing in Europe,” Putin said.”The strategic balance in the world is being upset and in order to restore this balance without creating an anti-missile defence on our territory we will be creating a system of countering that anti-missile system, which is what we are doing now,” Putin said.Last week, Russia tested a new ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads and a new cruise missile.While Western analysts said the system has probably been under development for several years, Putin has described the test as part of Moscow’s response to the US anti-missile plan.Nampa-AP