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July 08, 2007

Russia Says U.S. Building 'New Berlin Wall'

Sergei Ivanov (file photo) (Trend)

July 8, 2007 -- Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov says that U.S. plans to set up a missile-defense system in Central Europe amount to building a "new Berlin Wall."

In comments aired on the Rossiya television channel, Ivanov said placing rockets in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic "presents an obvious threat to Russia."


Russia has continually voiced its opposition to the U.S. missile-defense system that Washington says is meant to offer protection against attacks from Iran and North Korea.


Washington's plans for the missile shield have led to a further deterioration of already unsteady relations between Russia and the United States in recent months.


Russia has proposed creating a joint missile-defense system with United States and NATO participation as an alternative to Washington's current  plan, but U.S. officials have treated the proposal cautiously.



(Interfax, AFP)


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