Putin slams U.S. plans for anti-missile system

MOSCOW, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday lashed out at U.S. plans to deploy anti-ballistic missile systems in Poland and the Czech Republic.

"We see absolutely no arguments in favor of the deployment of missile defense systems in Europe; there are no s
uch reasons," Putin was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying after discussing such issues with his visiting Czech counterpart in Moscow.

The United States suggested earlier this year that a missile shield be deployed in central Europe, including interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar station in Czech Republic. The operation is expected to start from 2011.

Russia has repeatedly criticized the U.S. proposal, saying that it will harm regional security situation. The United States has insisted that it will only target the possible missile threat from Iran or North Korea.

The president, however, regarded the facility "an inalienable part of American strategic nuclear weapons," rather than a defense system, and threatened to take counter measures.

"For the first time in history, systems of American nuclear strategic complex appear on the European continent...These systems will control the Russian territory to the Urals if we, of course, take no counter measures, and we shall be doing that," he said.

Putin also criticized the growing NATO military presence in Europe, including alleged plans to establish two new bases in Bulgaria and Romania, for 5,000 troops each.

"It turns out that Russia is disarming unilaterally, while our partners are filling European space with new armaments," Putin said.

During his final state-of-the-nation speech delivered on Thursday, Putin said Russia will suspend obligation under the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe as NATO signatories to the treaty are not ratifying it, which has been inked by Russia and three other nations.