Russia Reiterates Concerns Over U.S. Missile Shield

The Young Russia movement demonstrated against the missile-defense plan in Moscow today (epa) April 4, 2007 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today reiterated Moscow's concerns over U.S. plans to deploy elements of a missile-defense shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Speaking to students and faculty at Armenia's Yerevan State University, Lavrov said the missile shield would threaten both Russia and Europe.

"We consider the unilateral decisions on the deployment of elements of the U.S. national missile-defense system in Central and Eastern Europe as creating risks for Russia and the whole of Europe," Lavrov said.

Washington insists the system is designed to counter missile attacks by "rogue" states like Iran and North Korea.

Lavrov is in Armenia to mark the 15th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Armenia and Russia. He met with President Robert Kocharian and Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian.

Lavrov is due to travel to Turkmenistan today for a two-day visit.

(Interfax, ITAR-TASS)