Broadcast 28 February on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

The remarks by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov concerning the American missile defense shield which said the claim by the Americans justifying the establishment of a missile base in Europe is without basis, were the first official position taken by a high Kremlin official in opposition to the missile defense system.

Previously the Russian deputy foreign minister and the commander of Russia's missile forces saw the American government's program to install guided missiles in Poland and the Czech Republic as a threat to Russia's national security and warned about targeting and attacking these sites.

This type of position conveyed by Lavrov to the American secretary of state is considered another point undermining relations between Russia and the United States, in such a way that it could contribute to a decline in relations between Russia and America with the continuation of American actions and Russian reactions.

Of course the harsh reaction by Russian officials to the plans of the American government is not limited to missile defense programs. Previously Moscow expressed concern and then gave a warning about America's efforts to expand NATO's activities and military operations to the East.

At the recent Munich meeting Russia's President Putin expressed concern about America's monopolistic policies and warned about the expansion of NATO's acvtities to the East. He even warned about efforts by some American government leaders to interfere in Russian affairs, and some of the media reported this as the beginning of a new East-West Cold War.