Russia irked by US missile shield in Romania

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=117969&sectionid=351020602

Moscow is concerned with US plans to deploy elements missile defense system in Romania, a senior Russian lawmaker said Friday.

Romanian President Traian Basescu said on Thursday that his country backed talks with the United States on a plan to deploy interceptor missiles as part of a missile shield to protect Europe.

On Friday, Viktor Zavarzin, head of the State Duma Defense Committee, said the plans could affect the European security architecture as well as ongoing talks on the Russian-US strategic arms reduction deal.

The Russian foreign minister also said earlier on Friday that Moscow was waiting for clarification from the United States over its plans to deploy missile defense elements in Romania.

"We expect the United States to provide an exhaustive explanation, taking into account the fact that the Black Sea regime is regulated by the Montreux Convention," Sergei Lavrov said.

The Montreux Convention regulates military activity around the Turkey-controlled straits of Bosporus and Dardanelles.

The US plan will allow terrestrial interceptors to be located inside Romanian territory, should the deployment be approved by the country's parliament.

The administration of US President Barack Obama scrapped a plan to deploye missile shield elements in Poland and Czech Republic after it raised tension with Russia.