The United States reiterated on Wednesday that its decision to deploy anti-missile system in Poland and the Czech Republic is not a threat to Russia after Moscow decided to deploy a short-range missile system in its Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad bordering Poland and Lithuania.
"The missile defense sites in the Czech Republic and Poland are not aimed at Russia," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.
Asked to comment Russia's announcement to deploy a short-range missile system in its Baltic Sea territory in response to US missile defense plans, McCormack said, "Certainly, the Russian action is disappointing."
The US missile defense system "is designed to protect against rogue states, for example, Iran, who are working on long-range missile technology. So this isn't aimed at Russia. The steps that the Russian government announced today are disappointing .... Hopefully one day they'll realize that."
The United States is planning to deploy 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic as part of its European missile shield.
Russia strongly opposes the plan, saying it poses a threat to its security. The United States insists that its missile defense system is aimed at states and groups in the Middle East that are seeking weapons of mass destruction, not against Russia.
The United States signed a bilateral treaty with the Czech Republic in July, allowing a US radar base on Czech soil.
In August, it reached another agreement with Poland on deploying parts of its global missile shield in that country.
(Xinhua News Agency November 6, 2008)
