BRUSSELS. June 7 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia and NATO might work out proposals for a joint concept of a non-strategic missile defense system in Europe by the end of 2003, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said at the first session of the NATO-Russia Council at 20 in Brussels on Thursday.
"The need to build a joint non-strategic missile defense system in Europe remains acute," the defense minister said.
Ivanov said that as a first step, Russian and NATO experts "should continue consultations on their joint assessment of missile threats, working out a single terminology for missile defense, as well as studying a concept and approaches toward building an non- strategic missile defense in Europe."
"I believe these consultations will enable us to work out proposals for a joint missile defense concept by late 2003," he said.