Russian, US delegations discuss missile defence at OSCE meeting

VIENNA, 31 October 2007 - Representatives of Russia and the United States met in Vienna today to discuss the missile defence initiative at a meeting of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC).

"Today's meeting gave both Russia and the United States a good opportunity to deliver their views on Washington's missile defence proposal," said Ambassador John Bernhard, who chairs the FSC on behalf of Denmark.

"The future of the missile defence proposal is directly related to European security. Such plans are not just a question of Russian-American relations. They are of interest to all European States, whether they are NATO members or not. That is why it is crucial to have occasions like this to be kept up to date and to discuss them."

The meeting included presentations by officials from the Russian Foreign and Defence Ministries, and from the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Defence and Missile Defence Agency.

In April, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, said he agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the Organization, which brings together 56 countries in Europe, Asia and North America, was the appropriate platform for such a discussion.

The Forum for Security Co-operation meets every week to discuss arms control, military confidence-building measures and disarmament. It is distinct from the Permanent Council, the OSCE's regular political decision-making body.