Moscow eyes pan-European security - by Sergei Blagove
As Moscow's assertiveness is anticipated to continue in 2009, the Russian authorities have come up with an ambitious foreign policy initiative: The Kremlin insists that a new pan-European security treaty, suggested by President Dmitry Medvedev, will help to avoid conflicts like its August war with Georgia, as well as disagreements on issues like US missile defense plans. While the West has responded coolly to the initiative, Russia argues that Europe lacks a coherent security system and that Russia will be forced to deal with new threats on its own. Europe is yet to create a system of collective security, open to all and guaranteeing equal security for all, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in remarks published on 15 December, adding that NATO's eastward expansion continued to create problems for Russia and for Euro-Atlantic policies. Other officials were less diplomatic, indicating that Russia's traditional fears of western encirclement remained on the agenda.
Russian military officials insist the country's nuclear deterrent will be further developed to counter the US missile defense plans. The development plans include the deployment of new inter-continental missiles capable of overcoming the US missile shield, Russian Strategic Missile Forces Commander General Nikolai Solovtsov said on 1 December. He also said the Strategic Missile Forces aimed to hold 13 missile tests in 2009.
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