US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addressed the Atlantic Council in Washington D.C. Monday, calling for closer ties between NATO and Russia. Clinton stressed that the relationship between the EU and NATO pose no threat to Moscow, and that the US welcomed Russia as an ally against major arms proliferation from such threats as Iran and North Korea.
"We need to make Russia a partner in our efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation and in missile defense. We invite Russia to join NATO in developing a missile defense system that can protect all citizens of Europe and of Russia as well."
At a separate event in Washington, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that former NATO foe Russia could now be a major partner in countering military and civilian threats.
"Doing missile defense together is the better deal, in terms of effectiveness and price. It is also a concrete manifestation of shared security -- one roof that we build together, that we support together, and that offers protection to us all including, I hope, to Russia."
Moscow has expressed doubts about new sea- and land-based interception systems proposed by the US for military defense in Europe.
Shannon Knapton, Reuters.
Glossary [only for reference]
proliferation [singular,uncountable]: a sudden increase in the amount or number of something
foe [countable]: literary, an enemy
counter [transitive]: to do something in order to prevent something bad from happening or to reduce its bad effects
in terms of something: if you explain or describe something in terms of a particular fact or event, you are explaining or describing it only in relation to that fact or event
manifestation [countable]: a very clear sign that a particular situation or feeling exists
interception: something, such as a missile, an aircraft, or a radio transmission, that is intercepted
