Shoigu urges U.S. to resume consultations on European missile shield
MOSCOW. March 25 (Interfax) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hegel have spoken with each other by telephone, discussing global and regional security issues, Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov told reporters on Monday.
"Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held telephone talks with U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel just an hour ago on the Russian side's initiative. Shoigu called Hagel to congratulate him on his appointment to the post of defense secretary," Antonov said.
"Shoigu said the Russian-American dialogue on military issues, and on global and regional security, including the European missile defense system, should be re-launched," Antonov said.
Russia wants to know how the European missile defense system will further develop, he said. "Our defense minister proposed restarting regular consultations on this issue between Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov and U.S. Undersecretary for Defense James Miller," he said.
Hagel thanked Shoigu for his greetings and supported the idea of re-launching dialogue between the Russian Defense Ministry and the U.S. Defense Department, Antonov said.