if you're just tuning in the sense our team with me karen terrell cheney and means are your headlines egyptians get their final shortlist presidential candidates but fear a return to mubarak's era with his prime minister returning to the rates. border order leaders pandered to flourishing right wing factions with the french president even threatening to quit the free travel so. the protest mood sweeping through russia and relations with the u.s. president may be evaluates his legacy in his final of the q. and a and before leaving the kremlin. also a massive blast tears through an allegedly rubble bomb making labs in syria as the successor to the influenced

a lot water mercenary company seemingly takes the opposition under its wing. coming up with the american missile shield in eastern europe house been a focus of discord between russia and the u.s. for years with washington refusing to give written guarantees that it won't target russia next up post all good most of takes to the issue in the spotlight.

hello again i walked into a spotlight. and today my guest on the show is nikolai. the american missile shield in europe has long been an issue in russian american law much as the u.s. keeps insisting that it will never pose any threat to the russian side but for some reason washington this one to put anything in right this may be the reason why the russian foreign ministry recently mourned of some corresponding steps which may fall out if an agreement is in sight so what does the russian side have in mind let's put this question to the commander of the general staff on the russian forces

general. according to u.s. officials the missile shield in europe would protect america from iran and north korea but moscow all use the existence of such a system right on russia's doorstep may hamper the country's defense capabilities that's why the kremlin wants return guarantees from the. washington but it won't be used against russia the shield was a thorn in russian u.s. relations during the george w. bush administration it seems to have become one again as america's offering no concessions on how the system will operate unless a compromise is found moscow says it will respond with both diplomatic and military countermeasures. general and welcome to spotlight viewer question my first question is something i've been asking various politicians and diplomats about and now i ask you as

a military man. white as a rush every guard to playing by the west to deploy a missile defense system in europe is a serious threat to its national security. to the end of the cold war era we began to cooperate in many areas including of ghana stan and come to piracy operations maritime security rescue missions. thanks to this partnership the world became more stable secure and predictable we signed a new start treaty but now we see new developments that may lead to its unilateral violation then you see us is building a system that is likely to upset the strategic nuclear balance so this scenario would be very dangerous both for russia and for the whole world that's why russia has to respond we have repeatedly explained to all partners that they are making a wrong move which may result in a new arms race and become

a major destabilizing factor in europe and even globally they say this missile shield to protect against iran in north korea does russia recognize that there is a growing nuclear threat coming from these two countries or does moscow deny any such threat. well the threat is always there we have been closely monitoring the nuclear capabilities of many countries in the cup that we are aware that many countries have never admitted having a nuclear arsenal but they actually have one there is no doubt if nuclear weapons fall into the hands of extremists that's what it will seriously compromise international security so we're open to consider any possible scenarios say what happens if certain countries do acquire a nuclear capability what we are saying is that we should work together to counter these threats but let's tackle these challenges together let's work out in joint response to the threats that affect russia as well as europe because russia is part

of europe but i did we conduct a joint assessment with our u.s. counterparts which prove that the threat is a realistic one that we recognize that it's necessary to set up a missile defense system we said let's ability to gather their effect that we have agreed to produce such a system implies that we recognize that the threat is there. the idea of russia and the west producing a joint missile defense system chris came up at a meeting of the nato russia council in lisbon in two thousand and ten in a joint statement issued after the talks with the leaders of the states break it now is that i quote to you because up our security of all states in the euro plenty community is indivisible and that is a curator of nato and russia is into wind. kind of quote you with that there is this fine principle of security coming into place differently by russia and nato but that upon that the guy for being so good yes this is

a fine principle indeed but interpretations are different but it's true that the lisbon summit was a new start for our cooperation you know we initially we rejected the idea of a missile defense system altogether and strongly opposed it but in lisbon the russian president for the first time said let's build a missile shield together. and there were two aspects we were looking at the first to run and we need to have thin alice's and work out in joint action plan. and second it was true reintroduced the practice so if missile defense exercises which were discontinued after the conflict between georgia and south are sitting two thousand and eight feet and what we saw in terms of their review our q objective was to work together to design the architecture of the european missile defense system based on the analysis of the potential threats and that is something that has never been completed but that's where the military exercises we're assuming

this practice materials we conducted recently in germany addressed a number of possible scenarios and in this regard lisbon summit you know open a new chapter in our cooperation on missile defense the parties used to some in two wars their positions and everybody thought that was great but the sad thing is that all these good intentions remained mere intentions and the principle of indivisible security appears now to be compromised as the missile defense system that is now being deployed exclusively by nato can indeed seriously jeopardize our country's nuclear capability and upset the balance that have taken so many years to build will pollute you just mentioned the joint theater missile defense exercise in europe ideally as suddenly as they go to how successful was it looked at that but i mean we don't often see serious military exercises. held jointly by russian and nato troops was it helpful in bringing us closer or not but i knew which in. the other was the final assessment is yet to be meet together with their u.s.

counterparts but we mainly wanted to consider some realistic scenarios in see what impact missile defense system may him on them we considered three options the first with the missile defense systems of russia and nato operating independently not the soyuz second that it would the two systems using their own fuel vehicles but sharing the details and the third with sharing everything coming in a common missile shield. and you tested all three options here so we were in all three of the tests and naturally the first option produced the poorest results the second one was much more effective but the third one with the parties working hand in and proved to be the most effective option that's exactly what we're looking for only common shield would be a reliable and comprehensive way to achieve the goals that we have set for ourselves but we don't know yet what assessments and interpretations are u.s. counterparts will come up with but i have given you the conclusions that russia has

me what do you think of these results have convinced your fellow top brass now all we have to do is convince the politicians. well i. guess it's easier for military people to reach an agreement because we work mainly with technical data modeling various scenarios such models you can call you really see how many sole defense including the phased adaptive approach effects or russia's nuclear capabilities if you go with who are the best for politicians but they just keep saying that the missile shield is not against russia but that's just talk it's not backed by any calculation that if you have to talk is cheap you need to look at the technical parameters and then draw conclusions about the impact on the system will have. to go a little general lisbon there's been another milestone in russia's missile defense a row with the west namely statements made by the russian president twenty third two thousand and eleven it was

a rather tough message and as you know it wasn't governments have taken it seriously that it doesn't do you think it was the last straw that prompted the president to come up with such a warning was there a specific moment of truth you brought back a couple of reputable up at the yes at the nih to russia summit to lisbon we decided that russia and nato when they don't perform a joint in the alice's and develop into missile defense system as our opinions diverged later on we saw nato adopt the phased adaptive approach which is a four stage plan to create a missile defense network capable of intercepting ballistic missiles including i.c.b.m.'s by two thousand and twenty with what not and that can significantly undermine russia's nuclear capability that is our concern that we have voiced that every level of negotiation but we advocated a joint missile defense network and proposed a number of modalities in which nato found an acceptable for some reason and we saw

that while professing its interest in comp aeration nato is working strictly according to its plan what's more need to held a missile. defense exercise earlier in april which proved their existing missile defense capabilities are efficient and nato's forthcoming summit in chicago is expected to come up with a statement of initial operational capability as part of faced one so we see that they're going ahead with their plan accordingly we have to take steps to secure our nation against this threat and this is exactly what the president announced but he made it clear that if nato goes on with its plans we'll take appropriate measures to neutralize the threat they go would you say that presidents mean the idea of a recent meeting with a bomb is no good unless anywhere with our president promised to pass a bomb his message to vladimir. may have considered this situation once again but so far you don't see a compromise coming your way but i guess that. there is no compromise inside for

now americans are even avoiding some issues would like to discuss with them i think it will take political will to move our missile defense discussion toward a constructive solution that is willing to deal with this issue in concert with whether we feel like it or not otherwise we'll find ourselves faced with a new threats so. chief general staff of the russian armed forces spotlight will be back shortly after we take a break so stay with us we'll continue this interview in less than a myth. when

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market why not come to. find out what's really happening to the global economy with mike's concert for a no holds barred look at the global financial headlines tune into cars a report. welcome back to the spotlight i'll go in often just there are wind of that today we're talking to general nikolai what car chief general staff of the russian armed forces . thank you. general i'm presently biaggi of instructing the defense ministry to put into operation and you early warning radar in kaliningrad what has been done so far. i mean you obviously cannot do something like that overnight can you feel

it so that. we put it on kumba duty last year we were up at the moment it is fully operational and we are working to expand its capability is not a sure it is expected to reach its full capacity by the end of next year. as an additional step the president is also commander in chief of the defense ministry to join up a set of measures which he did not specify that would i quote neutralize data in command centers of the missile defense system and of quote the her to that he said these measures should be if improper it efficient and low cost school co long will it take to work out the set of measures and could you give us any specifics about them. as i just look at them with a bit. in order to detect ballistic missile launches taurine other ereal targets you need in network of powerful radars and that's what is

being deployed in europe now is that the main part. that's the main part which supplies all the data so you and then you need to have interceptors to destroy the target to eliminate a threat that could be potentially harmful to russia we need to work out a set of technical measures to neutralize both the data component and the military component of this task can be accomplished in different ways it could be a military solution or a smart technology that can be siebel such a system without destroying it physically just know that just like other countries russia has been working to design that type of technology but it is and if the west goes ahead with its phased adaptive approach with what it is though it's russia will come up with a way to neutralize that threat. took over thirty moscow he said to host an international conference on missile defense in may. the can feel what is the

purpose of such an event what should the pilots. we have invited representatives of over fifty countries to the conference scheduled for may third we have invited military statham and experts on missile defense as well as representatives of nongovernmental organizations who care about europe but we want to present an in-depth analysis of all those issues that concern us at the end substantiate them with our calculations who want to show the current state of affairs and future scenarios where the missile defense project if it is implemented the way to use insists on it look like it then we need to discuss the danger that this development track and tails and figure out what to do next we don't impose our position and then you want we're not on any one of what to do we are presenting our plan in each party's read to consider options but we do need to make an assessment and try and achieve agreement on this matter in order to understand what we are and how we

shall move forward because it is a serious threat to us and the world must be aware of it we us as the chief of the general staff do you see this conference as a military or rather and political event but it's more along the diplomacy lines and that is. both there are two sides to this event although we do you want to make you nervous is some technical data professional discussion sessional yes we want to invite the experts and explain this missile defense system in professional terms explain our concerns giving the reasons and supporting them with relevant arguments and you probably point to the recent war games to say the third option is the best one that of course will definitely use the results obtained from those exercises pressured by all right but the president also said that russia will deploy its can their missiles in kaliningrad what will it take for this to happen what is going there is to be deployed there and become fully operational this can then can is can they actually neutralize the missile defense system well that just of course you

know that any missile defense system is currently. being deployed in poland the current technical capacity is basically have no impact on russia's nuclear capabilities but in case it's a. country's nuclear potential you know which case a political decision can be made to deploy the u.s. conveyor system to kaliningrad the u.s. but that would be a political decision at this point there is no need to do that everything will depend on what the other party specifically the u.s. does on missile defense and of course these going to air missile is capable of destroying missile defense installations. first. you mean that is can their missiles are operational in can be put on combat duty. depending upon whether or not the u.s. upgrades the polish component of the missile defense system. with their

correct he's going to air missiles are not including grad region right now they're not even there they're not there. to wrap up the missile defense issue you remember the cold war here you well we both were actually already a deal to the time even though there were smiles handshakes and the creation their friendship what america was considered potentially as their number one enemy but it was days are gone but do you feel that maybe those times are coming back in some way in russia and in the united states i'm not seeing that we're looking at each other to the cross hairs but it's close enough do you agree. there what i think the research danger though there are a number of factors here first we have those horrible statements by the u.s. presidential candidate mitt romney who called russia the number one foe but this is a serious factor that can new if everything we have achieved over the last decade second you for this missile defense system is built the way it was designed by the

americans to be as usual when it will become a serious factor which will destabilize the situation in europe. even result in the new arms race and this new arms race you can create a new system of international relations were each country will be very suspicious of other states but they don't want that to happen what you like events and we want to live in a stable you predict a bold and normal world. there was the right think you agree the americans wanted to they also want stability they want to live in a predictable normal world so what causes one country to make such statements then the other country reacts in finally we'll forget who started this whole thing but you what do you think they have the worst do you estimate that they will well i think the way forward to countries and nato as a whole one piece we should put it on paper. all right give me reduced you were

story let's put it on paper let's build those pieces are equal partners helping each other because this will make economic sense and bring stability into our relations this minister says the ministry of defense as well as the foreign ministry are disappointed by america's refusal to provide certain guarantees in writing even though obama is willing to give or really sure and says all right they're basically saying you will build a system by two thousand and twenty and then you will see that it's not against you to which you say can we have this in writing yes then sign it hush up the issue up north i have another question there have been reports that the u.s. intends to set up a missile defense network in the far east and was allegedly there working on a system similar to the one in europe that only positioned against a possible strike from china what is russia doing anything in that region because it promotes his point of view that system could pose as much threat to russia as

the european one unless the russian military have similar objectives in the far east in terms of missile defense. i think each government should have a defense plan and if we see u.s. deploying missile defense systems in the far east then that is what we see they have deployed a strong group of g.b.i. missiles in alaska they have deployed you just system on their warships not only in hawaii but also in all. of that potentially might be a threat that you post you at the same time we see that china is also concerned with that problem that they use the group of china's military as a pretext for deploying missile defense systems even south of china. use near that was a what we are seeing in the west and in the east you know was the creation of a powerful missile defense systems capable of affecting russia's strategic nuclear capabilities we have to respond to challenges in east as well as in the west. you

have your eyes on it naturally you have it under control and work is underway you said that as soon as they begin deployment we'll have to take on two measures but it's not our initiative this process was initiated by the other side what are you seeing it's russia's initiative doesn't it lead to situation where the russian military is falling behind with the us always one step ahead of us no more in terms of missile defense the us is certainly setting the pace and we want that to stop that's why we have been suggesting we build missile defense together its deal with that if you don't need missile defense in a certain region you shouldn't build it what do you need missile defense in alaska but they say it's against some third countries but those countries are very far from alaska it was doing so it's very clear that this system targets russia so we have to take measures to remove the threat posed by those systems thank you very much and just we're going to get my guest on the show today was gerald nikolaj chief general staff of the russian armed forces talk life we'll be back with more

with a comment on what's going on in and outside of russia if you have someone in washington you think i should add to the next time you drop a line until then stay on our take and take a sip. that's

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