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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Nato wary on joint missile shield | Nato wary on joint missile shield |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Nato has reacted cautiously to a Russian offer to use a radar facility in Azerbaijan as part of a joint missile defence system with the US. | Nato has reacted cautiously to a Russian offer to use a radar facility in Azerbaijan as part of a joint missile defence system with the US. |
| The alliance's secretary-general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, welcomed the proposal as a break with the "anachronistic" rhetoric between the two countries. | The alliance's secretary-general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, welcomed the proposal as a break with the "anachronistic" rhetoric between the two countries. |
| But he warned the system would probably be too close to the "rogue states" it is designed to defend against. | But he warned the system would probably be too close to the "rogue states" it is designed to defend against. |
| Russia's President Vladimir Putin made the offer at the G8 summit on Thursday. | Russia's President Vladimir Putin made the offer at the G8 summit on Thursday. |
| Mr Putin presented his proposal to US President George W Bush as an alternative to US plans to deploy missile defences in Poland and the Czech Republic. | Mr Putin presented his proposal to US President George W Bush as an alternative to US plans to deploy missile defences in Poland and the Czech Republic. |
| Speaking to the press on Friday at the end of the summit, Mr Putin also suggested that the US should consider locating the missile defence interceptors in Nato member Turkey, in Iraq or even on sea platforms. | Speaking to the press on Friday at the end of the summit, Mr Putin also suggested that the US should consider locating the missile defence interceptors in Nato member Turkey, in Iraq or even on sea platforms. |
| Vladimir Putin made George Bush an offer which will be difficult to turn down Presenter on Russia's NTV href="/1/hi/world/europe/6734265.stm">Media mull Putin's proposal | |
| Russia has repeatedly dismissed US claims the defence shield is only targeting so-called rogue states, such as Iran and North Korea, and in response has said it may aim its missiles at Europe once more. | Russia has repeatedly dismissed US claims the defence shield is only targeting so-called rogue states, such as Iran and North Korea, and in response has said it may aim its missiles at Europe once more. |
| Mr Bush described the most recent Russian proposal as "interesting" and said US officials would study it. | Mr Bush described the most recent Russian proposal as "interesting" and said US officials would study it. |
| The US president arrived in Poland on Friday afternoon where he is expected to discuss the defence shield during talks with his Polish counterpart, Lech Kaczynski, in the Baltic coastal resort town of Jurata. | The US president arrived in Poland on Friday afternoon where he is expected to discuss the defence shield during talks with his Polish counterpart, Lech Kaczynski, in the Baltic coastal resort town of Jurata. |
| 'Too close' | 'Too close' |
| Mr De Hoop Scheffer reacted positively to Russia's proposal for a joint defence system. | Mr De Hoop Scheffer reacted positively to Russia's proposal for a joint defence system. |
| "I hope that what we are seeing... is a signal that everybody will start talking to everybody once again on this important subject of missile defence," he told a defence conference in Brussels. | "I hope that what we are seeing... is a signal that everybody will start talking to everybody once again on this important subject of missile defence," he told a defence conference in Brussels. |
| It's a bit too early in the day for my final judgment Jaap de Hoop Scheffer | It's a bit too early in the day for my final judgment Jaap de Hoop Scheffer |
| "We need to get on with addressing together the 21st Century's security challenges, rather than resurrecting those from the past." | "We need to get on with addressing together the 21st Century's security challenges, rather than resurrecting those from the past." |
| Mr De Hoop Scheffer added that he had been concerned by Russia's threat to re-direct its missiles at Europe. | Mr De Hoop Scheffer added that he had been concerned by Russia's threat to re-direct its missiles at Europe. |
| "Warnings that Russian missiles might once again be targeted at Europe are unhelpful, unwelcome and, frankly, anachronistic," he said. | "Warnings that Russian missiles might once again be targeted at Europe are unhelpful, unwelcome and, frankly, anachronistic," he said. |
| However, Nato's leader said Russia's alternative to the US missile defence shield had its weaknesses. | However, Nato's leader said Russia's alternative to the US missile defence shield had its weaknesses. |
| "I think it is a bit close to the rogue states we are discussing," he said. | "I think it is a bit close to the rogue states we are discussing," he said. |
| "But it's a bit too early in the day for my final judgment. It is always useful when two presidents are constructively talking to each other on this." | "But it's a bit too early in the day for my final judgment. It is always useful when two presidents are constructively talking to each other on this." |
| Azerbaijan's foreign minister, Elmar Mamedyarov, welcomed Russia's plan, describing it as a move that would bring more stability to the region. | Azerbaijan's foreign minister, Elmar Mamedyarov, welcomed Russia's plan, describing it as a move that would bring more stability to the region. |
| Mr Mamedyarov said his country had already held "rudimentary consultations" with US officials. | Mr Mamedyarov said his country had already held "rudimentary consultations" with US officials. |
| The Qabala radar facility in the north of Azerbaijan is leased by the Russian military and can scan the Indian Ocean, the Middle East and most of North Africa. |