Russia-US cooperation can save world from nuke threat : Gorbachev
Moscow | Friday, Sep 25 2009 IST
 

Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev has said cooperation between Russia and United States missile shield could help resolve issues of nuclear proliferation.

In an interview to the Russian daily newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta today Gorbachev linked UN Security Council meeting on nuclear non-proliferation and US President Barack Obama's decision announced last week to scrap Washingtons plans for a missile shield in Central Europe.

"If the US President's decision is followed by other serious steps, there will be a chance to strengthen global security and enter a new level of cooperation in saving the world from the nuclear threat," he said.

He suggested Washington accept Moscow's proposal to jointly assess missile threats.

"This could help avoid projects like 'the missile shield in Central Europe' and also could be a step toward confidence, the beginning of a transition from deterrence to minimal sufficiency in the nuclear sphere," Gorbachev stressed.

"The two nuclear powers are bringing serious arguments to the Security Council meeting - they can say that progress towards cutting nuclear arsenals has resumed," Gorbachev said.

Russian President Medvedev and Obama agreed in July to replace the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which expires on December 5, including cutting their countries' nuclear arsenals to 1,500-1,675 operational warheads and delivery vehicles to 500-1,000.

-- (UNI) -- 25DF1.xml

 

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