Press Release (2001)054 1 May 2001

Statement by the Secretary General Concerning Missile Defences I have listened with great interest to US President Bush's speech on the growing challenges to global security, including the requirement for missile defences. The President is right to focus on these new security challenges, and I welcome his commitment to close consultation with the Allies. I spoke with him by phone yesterday, and am pleased that he is sending a team to brief NATO on the details of his thinking next week. When I met with Russian President Putin in February, he also focused on the threats posed by weapons of mass destruction, and the need for some military response in addressing these threats. So there is a wide consensus on the need for defences against the proliferation of ballistic missiles, and I look forward to working closely with the US Administration and other Allies on exactly how these challenges will be met.

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