Paris, 16 May 2001.- The two key Russian speakers – General V. MANILOV, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces and Dimitri ROGOZIN, President of the Committee for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Duma – who participated in the WEU Colloquy on European Security Policy in Berlin on 2 and 3 May stressed their various concerns about the Missile Defence plans of the US Administration. Both speakers warned against a repetition of the “Star Wars” policy of the US government under President Reagan.
 
General MANILOV and Dimitri ROGOZIN invited the Europeans to reflect together with Russians and Americans on how to face the new missile threats from the – according the US – “least responsible countries”. They pointed out that the American offer of a genuine dialogue needed to be seized, despite the fact that the impression had been created that a decision on the implementation of a Missile Defence System has already been taken. It was recalled that the Russian side rejects the proposal to renounce the ABM Treaty in order not to jeopardise the broad system of arms control agreements. 
 
General MANILOV expressed his satisfaction about the emerging European Defence identity which would also strengthen the stability on the European Continent. Europe and Russia have many things in common and should build upon it, he added.