France's Sarkozy says it will support European missile defense system

[News_Editor]

France's Sarkozy says it will support European missile defense system

2010-10-16 01:47:43 GMT+7 (ICT)

PARIS, FRANCE (BNO NEWS) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday reiterated that France will support the proposed European missile defense system with financial and technical resources.

Sarkozy met with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in Paris to discuss this but also other issues on the agenda of the upcoming Lisbon Summit in November.

The missile defense system over Europe was proposed by the United States and is scheduled to be activated by 2011. NATO will vote during the Lisbon Summit on whether the missile defense system should be included in their mission.

If accepted, the defense systems of the European alliance will be integrated to the missile shield currently being built by the Unites States.

The missile defense system was originally planned to prevent attacks from Iran and is expected to cost approximately $200 million that NATO members will pay over 10 years. The United States will absorb all initial costs for the construction and operation.

However, Sarkozy said that France will stop its support if the missile defense system is not conceived as a complement to nuclear deterrence but instead as a substitute. Rasmussen, meanwhile, said that the European missile defense would not replace the nuclear disarmament even though it is still a long-term goal.

The two French and NATO leaders also discussed the current situation in Afghanistan, in which Sarkozy expressed his concern that the region could once again become a safe haven for terrorists and other criminals.

In order to avoid such a situation, Sarkozy called for an adequate process of transition of security responsibilities to Afghan forces in areas where the situation permits.

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