Asian countries condemn US missile shield plan
Source: Agencies |
June 16, 2011, Thursday
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MEMBERS of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization criticized United States plans for a missile shield, saying yesterday it could undermine global security.
The regional security body signed a declaration condemning any unilateral build-up of missile defenses after their leaders met in the Kazakhstan capital of Astana.
"The unilateral and unlimited build-up of missile defense by a single state or by a narrow group of states could damage strategic stability and international security," the SCO said in the declaration.
The SCO includes China, Russia and the Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Iran, Pakistan, India and Mongolia have observer status in the body, set up 10 years ago to promote regional cooperation.
Russia has recently stepped up criticism of US plans to deploy missile defenses in Europe and has pressed for binding guarantees that the system would not weaken Russia's nuclear arsenal.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has threatened a new Cold War-style arms race if Moscow and Washington fail to resolve the missile defense spat.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said SCO members had been unanimous in their criticism of the missile shield and that the declaration referred not only to the European system.
"It is part of a global shield, and the global missile defense system being set up by the United States, which also covers East and South Asia," he said.
The US says its planned shield is meant to reduce the threat of a missile attack by Iran. Moscow says it fears the true aim is to neutralize Russia's own nuclear arsenal.
Chinese President Hu Jintao told the SCO annual summit: "The task of preserving global peace and promoting common development is getting more arduous and more onerous."
Hu said that in the next 10 years the SCO members should continue their efforts to deepen good-neighborliness and friendship, strengthen regional security, expand practical cooperation and increase people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivered a fiery 10-minute speech calling on members of the bloc to unite against Western powers.
"I believe that, through concerted actions, it is possible to change the general course of the world order in favour of peace, justice and peoples' prosperity," Ahmadinejad said.
Russia's news agency Interfax quoted Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari as reiterating his country's wish to become a fully fledged member of the SCO.
The regional security body signed a declaration condemning any unilateral build-up of missile defenses after their leaders met in the Kazakhstan capital of Astana.
"The unilateral and unlimited build-up of missile defense by a single state or by a narrow group of states could damage strategic stability and international security," the SCO said in the declaration.
The SCO includes China, Russia and the Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Iran, Pakistan, India and Mongolia have observer status in the body, set up 10 years ago to promote regional cooperation.
Russia has recently stepped up criticism of US plans to deploy missile defenses in Europe and has pressed for binding guarantees that the system would not weaken Russia's nuclear arsenal.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has threatened a new Cold War-style arms race if Moscow and Washington fail to resolve the missile defense spat.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said SCO members had been unanimous in their criticism of the missile shield and that the declaration referred not only to the European system.
"It is part of a global shield, and the global missile defense system being set up by the United States, which also covers East and South Asia," he said.
The US says its planned shield is meant to reduce the threat of a missile attack by Iran. Moscow says it fears the true aim is to neutralize Russia's own nuclear arsenal.
Chinese President Hu Jintao told the SCO annual summit: "The task of preserving global peace and promoting common development is getting more arduous and more onerous."
Hu said that in the next 10 years the SCO members should continue their efforts to deepen good-neighborliness and friendship, strengthen regional security, expand practical cooperation and increase people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivered a fiery 10-minute speech calling on members of the bloc to unite against Western powers.
"I believe that, through concerted actions, it is possible to change the general course of the world order in favour of peace, justice and peoples' prosperity," Ahmadinejad said.
Russia's news agency Interfax quoted Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari as reiterating his country's wish to become a fully fledged member of the SCO.
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