DATE=6/9/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=NATO / DEFENSE MINISTERS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-263319
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  NATO Defense Ministers met with their Russian 
counterpart in Brussels Friday to get more details on 
Moscow's proposal for a joint European anti-missile 
defense system.  Correspondent Laurie Kassman has the 
story.

TEXT:  Russia's defense minister, Igor Sergeyev, 
provided information about the Russian proposal, but 
the 19 NATO ministers say they need to read it more 
carefully.  

Mr. Sergeyev did not offer any details to the media in 
Brussels but assured them the plan does not violate 
the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

U-S defense officials say the Russian plan for a joint 
European anti-missile system must not replace in any 
way the U-S project of a missile defense shield.  One 
official suggested it could supplement -- but not 
substitute for -- the U-S system.  

Washington says the system would protect against 
attacks from rogue states like North Korea or Iraq.  
Moscow has opposed the U-S plan as a threat to 
European security that could spark a global arms race.

NATO defense ministers also discussed future weapons 
procurement plans that envision multilateral 
purchases.  The United States, Belgium, Denmark, 
Norway, Portugal and the Netherlands have announced 
they will look at joint purchases of precision air-to-
ground equipment to save on the high costs. 

U-S Defense Secretary William Cohen sees the joint 
purchases as another way to strengthen the European 
pillar of the trans-Atlantic alliance by pooling 
resources to maximize purchasing power.

NEB/LK/GE/KL 



09-Jun-2000 08:35 AM EDT (09-Jun-2000 1235 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.