NATO: missile defense not aimed at Russia
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}NATO's secretary general says Russia has nothing to fear from a planned missile defense system in Eastern Europe and should cooperate with the Western military alliance.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the shield could help defend Russia as well as NATO countries.
On Thursday, Russia's top military officer, Chief of General Staff Nikolai Makarov, threatened a pre-emptive strike on the facilities if NATO goes ahead with its plans.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fogh Rasmussen said Friday that comment is "unjustified" and that "the best way the Russians could see with their own eyes that the missile defense system is not aimed against Russia is to engage in the cooperation we have suggested."
NATO has said it wants to cooperate with Russia on the missile shield, but it has rejected Russia's proposal to run the shield jointly.