Russia has ``no allergy" to NATO missile shield - Rogozin.

BRUSSELS, September 17 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia and NATO pose no threat
to each other and Moscow is ready to discuss participation in the planned
missile shield of the alliance.
"We have no allergy to the missile shield issue," Russian Ambassador
to NATO Dmitry Rogozin told Tass on Thursday.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen invited Russia to hold
talks with the 28 NATO states at an alliance summit in Lisbon in November
and consider its possible participation in the planned missile shield in
Europe.
"The quality of NATO proposals will play a key role" in the issue,
Rogozin said.
"Much will depend on what role Russia is offered and on the degree of
participation in decision-making," he added.
Rogozin recalled that Russia and NATO have completed a general review
of security threats in the 21st century. "The document testifies that
neither Russia poses a threat to NATO today nor NATO is a threat for
Russia. It clearly shows that we face the same challenges to our security.
Now the question is what to do with the document. Shall we counter the
same threats separately or shall we do it together?"
The ambassador said the review will be considered at the informal
ministerial meeting of Russia-NATO Council on the sidelines of the UN
General Assembly in New York on September 22.
The NATO summit in Lisbon has to approve a new strategic concept and
Rogozin said "we do not conceal our interest in the document. We believe
it offers a possibility for NATO countries to drop Cold War inertia and
move to a new quality of relations with Russia."
The Russia-NATO summit in Lisbon will be the first top meeting
following the brief war in Georgia in 2008 after which NATO froze
relations with Russia. President Dmitry Medvedev is expected to represent
Russia at the summit.
"So far we have not received the invitation, but we are expecting it
to arrive shortly," Rogozin said.
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