Russia Concerned By U.S. Missile-Defense Plans

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (file photo) (Council of Europe)

February 3, 2007 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today said that Moscow has expressed its concern to Washington over its plans to deploy a missile-defense system in Eastern Europe.

Lavrov made his remarks in Moscow after completing a visit to Washington.

The United States wants to set up the missile-defense system in the Czech Republic and Poland.

Russian defense officials say the move would have a "destabilizing" effect in the region.

(AP, Interfax)