Russia Questions Missile Defense Plans

[dogday]

MOSCOW -- The United States has not adequately answered Russia's questions on its plans to build components for its missile defense system in former Soviet satellite states in Europe, Russia's top diplomat said Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks were the latest expression of irritation from Moscow over Washington's plans to base parts of the system in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Washington says the defense system is intended to defend against missile attacks from countries such as Iran, not Russia. But Moscow has warned the system would disrupt the balance of power in the region and that it would take countermeasures.

"We are discussing this with our American colleagues and we are asking them to answer our questions, the concerns that we have, which are absolutely fair and justified," Lavrov told reporters.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-russia-us-missile-defense,0,920351.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines