MOSCOW. May 16 (Interfax) - The option of using the national strategic nuclear plan, should such a necessity arise, would be the best guarantee of national security for Russia, Russia's NATO Ambassador Dmitry Rogozin has said.
"Whatever the guarantees we are receiving, the best guarantee of our security is our own potential, not only political, but, above all, military-political," Rogozin told a roundtable conference at the State Duma on prospects of creating a European missile defense system.
Russia must always be guided by the principle "trust but verify" in its dealings with allies, said Rogozin, who also heads the Kremlin working group for interaction with NATO on missile defense.
In any case, the work on programs to develop the national weapon systems and to have "a national strategic nuclear plan, independent of anyone and capable of responding to any aggression by one state or a group of states," would reflect a responsible approach, guaranteeing national security. "Only this way will the gunpowder remain dry," Rogozin said.
On the proposed European missile shield, Europe must demonstrate a responsible approach to this situation, he said.
"Europe must not watch indifferently someone else's military infrastructure being developed in its territory," he said.
"Europeans cannot hide - must not hide - behind the backs of even the most faithful allies, Americans. They must have their own voice," he said.