one of president bush's first acts in office was to order the foreign ministry to obtain clear guarantees that america's missile defense shield is not a threat to russia next we talked to nato secretary general on the future of cooperation between moscow and be allowed such a special interview next week. alexander vershbow deputy secretary general great to have you with us sir good to be here so i want to start with something you probably never heard before. is greatly concerned about nato anti-missile defense system will be able to shoot down its nuclear missiles that's upsetting the balance in the region that the negotiation on this topic started two years ago in two thousand and ten why do you think that is that the united states still is and haven't been able to personally rochelle's the opposite well it's not something that is very satisfying and we want to continue to

work on this dialogue with russia. but it is a serious difference of opinion that we have to overcome because it's really about the facts about the science about the capabilities of the system that nato is developing with the strong contribution from the united states we remain convinced that there is no danger to the russian strategic nuclear force not today not ten years from now and that the russian analysis is based on a series of worst case to some sions and and unrealistic assumptions that creates an image of a threat which really doesn't exist there's so much to be gained from cooperating. there's a threat out there that's significant today and will be growing by the end of this decade. more and more of europe including european russia will be within range of ballistic missiles and possibly equipped with nuclear weapons or chemical weapons so if we can cooperate if we can link our systems plan together. that have our

experts working together twenty four hours a day i think that russia can overcome its concerns and become a real full partner of nato on missile defense but russia is still doubtful and you're absolutely right when you say not allow but is worried that maybe in five six seven years time the european anti missile defense system will be able to shoot down for example specifically its concern about the modifications of the s m three interceptor that can travel fast enough to actually shoot down russia's new cells and sent a key issue it's a very technical issue but it's a very fundamental issue is that in a nato system can't fire. today system in the system we might have ten years from now it cannot fire until they are totally i.c.b.m. that it's targeting has finished its powered flight until the engine burns out and only then is it going in a ballistic trajectory by the time that happens. if this we're talking about a russian system it'll be too far to the north nato will it might fire but it will

be chasing the tail that missile all the way to crashes into the arctic sea so what you're saying completely makes sense and you're not the first one to answer this questions but then here's the big question that i ask everyone and now we can answer that question in that case why can't america when he took us russia legally bound in guarantees that's a complicated question relating in part to politics and in part to the nature of the problem the cooperation itself we think is the best guarantees come inside the structures participate in the planning learn more about the system we could agree to exchange information about what we're going to have not just tomorrow but five years from now ten years from now there's lots of ways to increase predictability which is really what russia is looking for a guarantee as we saw with the a.b.m. treaty it's just

a piece of paper can be torn up and abandoned just took six months for president george w. bush to abandon the a.b.m. treaty so that. didn't didn't serve as a barrier but co-operation predictability full understanding of what the system can do looking out five ten years that's what we're prepared to provide and i think a solution can be found now i mention politics president obama when he saw the ratification of the new start treaty made some very specific commitments to the senate to get that treaty through he said the united states will accept no limits on its ballistic missile capabilities i know president did you have had to make similar deals to get it through the duma. but political leaders need to. understand that no one has the ability to override the will of their of their parliaments i understand but in this case in this particular case america needs

this dissent system much more than russia because it's. it's a topic of concern for russia so it's the only thing that's coming in the way of sealing the deal is the legal legal guarantee why not just give it because it would because of the commitments that have been made it would be rejected by our senate we're in a worse situation so i just don't think that's the answer i think political guarantees transparency predictability. and the benefits that come from cooperation. in which nato would be helping russia protect its territory just as much as russia would be helping nato i think all that leads to the kind of confidence that. both necessary and sufficient to move forward well from what we're told they say european missile defense system is really directed against the iranian threat and it will be fully operational in two thousand and eighteen there are numerous ways right now to contain iran u.s. is building bases around it israel has kept abilities international sanctions are

in place it really doesn't look like in the nearest future for another five six years see iran will be representing a real threat to nato so why so what is the purpose of this whole european anti-missile system if iran is contained well there's a i think a legitimate debate that we could have maybe if we had more time about can iran a regime that has a radical ideology that has pledged to wipe the country not far from its borders off the map whether it could really be contained. but yes the threat today is not. as bad as we think it will be five ten years ago ten ten years from now so we do have time to work this out right now the threat is concentrated mainly in the southeastern part of europe and southern part of russia if you look at the circles on the map. but we've also seen iran conduct tests of new generation missiles that

are even longer range that can begin to threaten central europe by the end of the decade they'll be threatening northern europe will they actually attack. who knows but having the missile defense capability would change their calculus they would know that they couldn't blackmail us they couldn't successfully carry out preemptive strikes. so that's so missile defense ultimately is part of deterrence at the regional level and we don't think it affects the turns at strategic level as you see what's to future of to european missile defense system taking into consideration the financial problems surrounding the issue in the us well i think the system is still on course because it's in visits to be implemented in stages over many years. we have time to demonstrate to the skeptics that the systems are capable. that they can be produced within the budget constraints that are there set

by our congress and by nato this is a gradual process phase two doesn't begin till two thousand and fifteen that's three years from now the next phase is three years later twenty eighteen so. i think we can work out arrangements with russia. that would strengthen the security of nato and russia together so from the russian perspective the whole missile defense is break or make as far as regular as far as nature relations go present advance of has stated more than one step at a new arms race could be in place if the two sides don't come to the agreement but is it really as important to nato as it is to russia i would hope that at the end of the day it would be equally important to both parties because we're talking about our security and security of our people security of our territory. you know nothing more important than that. at the same time we take the russian concerns very seriously so we have to address the concerns about strategic stability i think

we can. and you know then i think we can to really be thinking about nato russia relations in a totally new way. we're still not yet free of the. hostility of the suspicions of the cold war which is disappointing for has been a long time since the berlin wall came down and the matter of europe was changed irrevocably but those suspicions still linger and. it's our mutual obligation to try to work together to overcome how do you think the whole thing will play out with putting back in office he also has openly criticized the u.s. anti-missile defense plans as undermining trust between two nations i think that he's very familiar with the subject matter this issue has been with us for a long time he was discussing it with the previous hadley us administration when the last time he was president so. clearly there's

a. maybe some. residual suspicion in distrust going back to some of those negotiations before the obama administration came into office a different topic nato has made a major contribution to the success of the libyan uprising kilby as current government install stability in the country without foreign military aid well we certainly hope so. it was never. our intention it was never the mandate to. to engage in a long term stability operation in libya the libyans are a proud people who you know want to take control of their their own future they're trying to. prepare for elections this spring. but. you know i think i said at the implicit part of your question that things are a bit confused right now inside libya and there's problems of control over some of the weapons that were. liberated from the from gadhafi as arsenals there's

a very weak institutions whether one talks about the militias that are still operating or lack of a fully developed judicial system so they need they need help and hopefully the united nations can help in coordinating the kinds of assistance they need to build stronger institutions. no one seems to be calling for any international military involvement i think that what they need is help from both their arab friends from europe from the from the e.u. and any any individual actor who can share expertise that can help them put their house in order not you out of all people should know was planning to kill qaddafi from the very onset of the operation that wasn't nato has mission it wasn't nato responsibility. even though i think for the people of libya.

it might have been done in through a more orderly process but. i think they have a brighter future today than they did one year ago alex our nerve first phone until deputy secretary thank you very much for this and it's a pleasure. to

be so much brighter if you knew about someone from the funniest impression. starts on t.v. dot com. it's .

prime minister. a new government president has already. russia's political. activists remain in central moscow protesting against. some of the. clashes only evolve. little time to enjoy the taste of victory as he needs to get down to business to bring about change leaving the era behind. a previous foreign policy and tackling the new president. with more on those stories in full in less than fifteen minutes from here with this.

good to have you with us this is sports today plenty head over the next ten minutes including. getting his skates on just hours after the russian presidential inauguration bloodier putin takes to be ice for a gala sporting event in moscow. let's play comments after a five year by fifo over paid scarf usage and rounds and women footballers finally return to action taking on russia in a. forcing iran early summer silly sports season tix to the real track for the annual moscow run tional. great stuff but let's kick off a football in moscow have edged ahead in their quest for a champions league place next season we all remained where hosting coupon knowing a win would put them three points above closest rivals currently second place

spartak moscow heading into the final day in the end they got one point drawing nil nil in the capital and off those moves them above spartak there's just one automatic champions league spot up for grabs in russia this year that's already going to champions need some petersburg while the team finished second will enter the qualifying stages all of the team got. a new manager meanwhile will be leading spartak moscow onto the field next season unite emery the. coach saying he's reached an agreement on a two year contract with the red white to replace former real sociedad teammates arpan forty year old emery will reportedly double his salary to two point four million euro per year under the deal when he joins up. staying with football where the women's game in a run receives a must have boost in march fifth lifting their five year bomb on players wearing head scarves that left the international team free once again to playing global

tournaments richard from port fleet went to watch as the country's food seller representatives took on russia in moscow. it's been a frustrating five years the female footballers from iran a ruling by three thirty in two thousand and seven out will play is wearing head scarves due to safety concerns women from iran are required to cover their head and neck the country's religious morals and the same applies to footballers with neither party willing to back down iran's women's olympic team were forced to pull out of a qualifier with jordan last year. however football's governing body finally overturned their ban on players wearing the he jobs of the bill crow was used instead of metal pins to fasten the headscarf so overcoming feet a safety concern when it's football is always been very popular in iran however before the ban was overturned there were actually says the school could die out of the country as top players were unable to appear in major competitions however

through this new exciting generation than are given opportunities for the breed assesses never have and those players a certainly making the most of the new found freedom to play internationally though it was a long process to overturn peter's decision about that him up with the move and it was spend a lot of time trying to convince the father there was no problem whatsoever in playing and he were really happy that they overturned the ban and that we can now play in headscarves and i can tell you that wearing the job doesn't affect their player's performance and we're just so happy that we can now compete in international competitions and football is developing quickly in iran and there is now a fighting domestically for the number of competitions there are around fifty thousand women playing before bowl. of food sol in iran while there are also a number of rising stars which will hopefully continue to develop the sport in the country. the wins put solved seem to calm their russian counterparts and there were

certainly some heavy challenges as both sides showed a lot of desire to win. unfortunately for iran despite going an early goal up they went on the bench alludes to one of the head coach says it's all part of a learning curve. russia was in iran two months ago and their results for two friendly matches their result was two two and one zero for russia but today actually. we really wanted to win this time but i think the. russian have more experience than us that's was over the run didn't manage to win the most important thing was but they are competing on the international stage once again and we're now free to play the sport can hopefully continue its rapid development in the country worldwide richard i'm told we don't see moscow. switching codes to basketball where the san antonio spurs have made it into the second round

of the n.b.a. playoffs after winning their best of seven series against the utah jazz four zero the clean sweep he did on monday with tim and duncan and co winning game four eighty seven eighty one. with seventeen points for the spurs elsewhere the l.a. clippers are taking a commanding three one lead in their series with memphis in overtime chris paul taking over the extra session to finish with twenty seven points the clippers will are trying to close the series on wednesday. you know to move on so we have to do a good job in terms of handling the intensity of the game the physicality is going to be a high which is great. they want to be ready for if we go in there just thinking you know we're just going to play a normal game you know we're going to be in trouble we have to go with the intensity like you know our backs are against the wall ready to fight. for those fans who failed to secure their seat for the upcoming twenty twelve london olympic games don't despair because nine hundred thousand additional tickets will be made

available from friday the initial distribution process received no end of criticism with twenty thousand the national missing are due to booking issues those twenty thousand will now have a thirty one hour window starting early this friday though to purchase up to four tickets for a single event a million other unsuccessful first applicants for nine hundred thousand tickets can then apply starting on saturday on a first come first serve basis. russia will be seeking revenge against germany later in their third match of the two thousand and twelve ice hockey world championships the german shock the red machine two zero in the group stages last year old sides from their roster since the last thing contra including gold where so many on varlamov sort of both games for the top right person so far in the n.h.l. start to continue those net mining two days later as well still it will be up to us as a tuck to do what it failed to do last year put some goals past the german rear guard

have already beaten a lot norway so far this trip. versus first ever amateur ice hockey league meanwhile is reaching its climax on to mark the occasion i gala much took place this week between a selection of mature players and russian legends one other very special guest also taking to the rink as michael chang co reports. ice hockey is huge in russia there's no question about it whether it's the iconic summit series from one nine hundred seventy two or the countless medals at the olympics ice hockey has always been at the heart of russia's sporting excellence on the newly created russian amateur i saw you lose ange to uphold the tradition russian hockey legends including two time olympic gold with the axis. fifty seven took to the ice in an end of season gaal a match against a select lucky bunch of damage of players that's also befitting danny was rushing middle of it out in the ice hockey will championship and of course they were all very sick of the russian federation's new president vladimir putin who might make

a surprise appearance later on in true putin fashion he found the time not only to show up but also help his band of amateur players beat the legends team he scored almost as soon as he entered the fray and after setting up a vital last minute equaliser went on to secure his team's victory with a well taken penalty. i would like to say thank you to all of it rings i know how they admire the development and ice hockey how they found the time to support our russian beginners hockey league i'm constantly shocked at how many of our older generations follow and support ice hockey and i want to wish everyone good luck. and to cap off a successful night international i saw the federation president burning fazil found the time amidst the only growing world championships to attend and say a few words. mr president i congratulate you.

and dear friends i love you all come on russia i and with that there is no doubt that the sports will have a staunch following for decades to come mark of genco r.t. moscow. he might make the russian team just yet who know it's now finally next in college may have won last month's grand national in ignorance one of the most famous horse races in the world but this week a grand national with a difference was held that's the annual muskox right here at canton reus course forty six competitors representing professional and amateur sports clubs and other organizations taking part in the one hundred meter dash with spencer. it's. just that from the one competitor was fun to be wearing spikes taking it a little too seriously the winner by clear margin though was born in both clubs mr bumble who reiterated his dominance by retaining the title he won last year.

we had stuff well done to all involved there and that is all your fourth next. down the official ante up location. i pod touch from the q. jumps to. life on the. video on demand tease my old comes an r.s.s. feeds now with the palm of your. on the dot com.

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video was voted in as prime minister by the country's lawmakers. and new government here in russia. under. president. bush's political join me in a few moments for all the latest and hundreds of activists remain in central moscow protesting against putin's return to office this comes after some four hundred arrests in clashes on the eve. and also reporting this france's newly elected leader does little time to enjoy the taste of victory and he needs to get down to business to bring about promised change leaving the. online on screen this is live from moscow with you twenty four hours a day.