U.S.-Russia cooperation can save world from nuke threat - Gorbachev

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said on Thursday that cooperation between Moscow and Washington in missile defense could help resolve issues of nuclear proliferation.

In an interview with the Rossiiskaya Gazeta published on Thursday, Gorbachev linked today's UN Security Council meeting on nuclear non-proliferation and U.S. President Barack Obama's decision announced last week to scrap Washington's plans for a missile shield in Central Europe.

"If the U.S. president's decision is followed by other serious steps, there will be a chance to strengthen global security and enter a new level of cooperation in saving the world from the nuclear threat," Gorbachev said.

He suggested Washington accept Moscow's proposal to jointly assess missile threats.

"This could help avoid projects like 'the missile shield in Central Europe' and also could be a step toward confidence, the beginning of a transition from ... deterrence to minimal sufficiency in the nuclear sphere," Gorbachev said.

Medvedev told his U.S. counterpart Wednesday that Russia was ready to continue missile defense cooperation with the U.S. and Europe.

"The two nuclear powers are bringing serious arguments to the [UN] Security Council meeting - they can say that progress towards cutting nuclear arsenals has resumed," Gorbachev said.

Medvedev and Obama agreed in July to replace the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START-1), which expires on December 5, including cutting their countries' nuclear arsenals to 1,500-1,675 operational warheads and delivery vehicles to 500-1,000.

RIA Novosti // 24.09.2009