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Wrap: Russian general talks NATO, nuclear, missile proliferation

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MOSCOW, December 1 (RIA Novosti) - During an extensive news conference in Moscow, the Chief of the Russian General Staff covered a number of issues concerning relations with NATO and the U.S., proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies and Russia's defense capabilities.

Colonel General Yury Baluyevsky questioned the efficiency of existing missile defense systems by saying that Russia has the technology for a strategic ballistic missile that could get around any existing or future systems, but said the country does not regard any particular state as a potential enemy.

"We have long stopped preparing for large-scale nuclear and conventional wars," he said. "We will continue to prepare for the defense of our territory, but we will not be preparing for a war on foreign land."

He said Russia and NATO should avoid conflicts in their relations caused by "the remnants of old-thinking among certain politicians and the military."

"A war between Russia and NATO is not the path we should be seeking," the general said.

Speaking about the domestic situation in a number of former Soviet states, Baluyevsky said CIS member states had the right to determine their destiny without foreign influence and pointed to Russia's right to defend its interests in the post-Soviet space.

He condemned the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for turning into a surveillance organization by overseeing the observation of democratic principles in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Baluyevsky also addressed Russian-American military cooperation, saying it had an "impulsive character".

"Military contacts between our countries sometimes work impulsively. When there is a problem, there is an increase in activity. When the problem is gone, the activity gradually subsides," he said.

The general outlined cooperation between Washington and Moscow in the fight against terrorism and terrorist financing, the increased control over the proliferation of portable air-defense complexes and the timely exchange of information on terrorist groups.

"Although Russia and the U.S. share views on key issues, we do not feel that everything in our relations is going smoothly," Baluyevsky said.

The general offered sharp criticism of what he considered to be a case of double standards in how the United States approached nuclear security issues.

"The U.S. has made demands that a number of countries' nuclear programs should be completely transparent, " he said. "On the other hand, the U.S. turns a blind eye to the fact that Israel has for a long time ... had a significant nuclear arsenal."

Baluyevsky pointed to similar double standards in U.S. cooperation with Russia in other spheres, including control of missile technologies. According to Baluyevsky, the U.S. not only uses its arsenal to defend its interests, but also as a form of leverage to put pressure on rivals on the market for this form of weaponry.

He said the Russian Defense Ministry had a serious approach to bilateral and multilateral cooperation with the United States against the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

Baluyevsky said documents describing technologies of 'dirty' radioactive, chemical and biological weapons have been found in Chechnya.

"Terrorism is seeking ways of creating weapons of mass destruction, which forces us to take preventive steps," he said.

The general also said the possible deployment of U.S. anti-missiles in Poland and other countries may lead to serious environmental consequences.

"These are not simply my words, this could really happen," Baluyevsky said. "This is the assessment of experts."

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