Europe Might Consider Own Missile Defence System

[rossana <rossana at comodinoposta.org>]

by Staff Writers
Baku (AFP) Feb 19, 2007
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Monday said Europe 
was considering its own missile defence system in parallel to a shield 
the United States wants to put up in Eastern Europe. But Steinmeier, who 
has criticized the United States for not discussing its planned missile 
shield with Russia, said acknowledged that Europe does not yet have the 
technological know-how to build a rival to the US system.

"I think that a lot of countries are interested in these (defence) 
systems. Time will tell how many of these are effective," Steinmeier 
said as he left a meeting with Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar 
Mammadyarov in Baku.

He added: "In Europe, we are also thinking about the creation of such 
systems and of their deployment. But for the moment we are not very far 
advanced in terms of the technology."

The prime ministers of Poland and the Czech Republic met Monday to 
discuss the proposed US defence system in their countries. They have not 
yet formally agreed to accept the US shield but have welcomed plan, 
which the Washington says is intended to intercept possible attacks from 
Iran and North Korea.

Russia has strongly objected to having such a system on its doorstep. 
And in an interview on Monday with the German daily newspaper, 
Handelsblatt, Steinmeier said the United States should have discussed 
the plan with Russia before announcing it.

"One should have spoken with Russia earlier as the sites where they (the 
missiles) are to be stationed are close to Russia," he said.

"Considering the strategic nature of such projects, I call for a 
cautious approach and intensive dialogue with all partners who are 
directly or indirectly affected," he added.

Policy Watch: Putin's Munich speech
by Mark N. Katz
UPI Commentator
Washington (UPI) Feb. 16 - Russian President Vladimir Putin's Feb. 10 
speech at the Munich Conference on Security Policy received a lot of 
press coverage in the West for its criticism of U.S. foreign policy. 
Less noted in the United States, however, was that his speech was also 
critical of European governments.

Putin's unhappiness with American foreign policy was evident from his 
denunciation of the "unipolar world." Putin particularly objects to the 
"almost unrestrained, exaggerated use of force" and what he sees as 
America imposing its legal norms "on other states in all spheres."

He also stated his opposition to the deployment of American missile 
defense systems in Europe and the militarization of outer space. Putin 
said that while Russia will "strictly adhere to the obligation" that 
Washington and Moscow agreed upon to each reduce its deliverable 
strategic nuclear warhead inventory to 1,700-2,200 by the end of 2012, 
he expressed fear that the U.S. will not.

In all these matters, Putin appears to be appealing to European 
governments and publics to side with Russia against America. But there 
are matters on which he opposes Europe also. Putin declared that the 
decision to use force "can be regarded as legitimate only if" it is made 
within the United Nations framework (where Russia holds a veto in the 
Security Council). He specifically declared that neither NATO (which 
includes the United States) nor the European Union (which does not) 
should substitute for the U.N.

Putin's complaints about American forces and missile defense systems 
being deployed in Eastern Europe "closer to our state borders" not only 
expresses his objection to the U.S. decision to send its forces there, 
but to East European governments' decisions to accept them.

In addition, Putin's objection to the Organization for Security and 
Cooperation in Europe's "unwarranted interference in the ... internal 
affairs" of other countries (i.e., Russia) is a complaint not just about 
American, but also European concerns for Moscow's commitment to 
democracy and human rights.

Putin noted that "foreign capital accounts for up to 26 percent of oil 
extraction in Russia" and that there is fifteen times more foreign 
investment in Russia than there is Russian investment in other 
countries. His citing these statistics was meant to counter European as 
much or more than American complaints about the investment climate their 
firms face in Russia, the efforts of Russian businesses to expand their 
operations in Europe, and Russian energy policies.

In response to a question, Putin said that Russia will not support any 
decision on the status of Kosovo (where the Albanian majority seeks 
independence from Serbia) which "one party [i.e., Serbia -- which does 
not want to let go of Kosovo] is clearly dissatisfied with." This 
indicates Putin's opposition not just to American policy on this issue, 
but European policy as well.

Overall, the tone of Putin's speech was not so much belligerent as it 
was petulant. Putin's principal message seems to be that America and 
Europe have misunderstood Russia. Further, American and European 
complaints about Russia are illegitimate while Russian complaints about 
them are all legitimate. More than anything else, Putin is upset that 
Americans and Europeans are making decisions without consulting Russia 
on important matters which concern it.

While undoubtedly heartfelt, Putin's speech is unlikely to persuade 
European or American leaders to change their policies toward Russia. 
Indeed, petulant statements like the one Putin made in Munich only 
encourage European governments to retain their alliance with the United 
States despite their objections to Bush administration policies.

(Mark N. Katz is a professor of government and politics at George Mason 
University.)

Source: United Press International

Source: Agence France-Presse

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