BARVIKHA: Russia will continue to promote the idea of creating a new pan-European security body despite the U.S. decision to scrap its missile shield plans for Central Europe, the Russian president said on Wednesday.
“Despite the easing of tensions, the solving of several problems, and the recognition of a multipolar world order by key international players, it seems to me sensible to set up such a system, and we will promote this idea further,” Dmitry Medvedev said after talks with his Czech counterpart, Vaclav Klaus.
Medvedev proposed in the summer of 2008 setting up an organization ensuring peace in Europe, in which no state or organization would have a monopoly.
Medvedev said that existing organizations and blocs, including the EU, NATO, the OSCE and the post-Soviet CIS alliance, are unable to tackle all security issues, and that European countries need a forum to discuss and tackle them.
He drew a parallel with the Group of 20 developed and developing nations, whose role has become more prominent since the onset of the current global economic crisis.
Speaking at the news conference with Medvedev, Klaus welcomed the thaw in Russia-U.S. relations and the end to the dispute over the planned radar in the Czech Republic and a missile base in Poland. Moscow had considered the plans a threat to its security.
“I feel tensions are subsiding. I am happy about this,” Klaus said.
Russian-Czech ties had also been strained by Prague’s consent to host the radar.
