Junior foreign minister Peter Hain called for dialogue with the new US administration of President-elect George Bush over controversial US plans for a nuclear missile shield.
In an interview with BBC radio, Hain denied that the two countries were at loggerheads over the controversial National Missile Defense (NMD) program.
"We have been discussing with the present Clinton administration and stand ready to discuss with the Bush administration what their proposals are, and that is a continuing dialogue," he said.
"What we don't want to see is any unilateral steps by Washington which could breach the anti-ballistic missile treaty especially in terms of Russian interests."
That was why British Prime Minister Tony Blair had discussed the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Moscow last November, he added.
"So no, this is not a question of, as it were, being at loggerheads, it's a question of pursuing a dialogue," said Hain.
During his Moscow visit, Blair said he hoped any US plan would be developed in the context of negotiated treaties, a clear reference to the 1992 missile treaty between the US and Russia that Moscow wants respected.
Backers of the NMD see it as the best way to shield the United States from missile attacks from so-called "rogue" states such as Iran and North Korea.
But detractors, including Russia, China and some European states such as France and Germany, say it could upset the world's delicate strategic balance and spur a new global arms race.
During his presidential campaign, Bush backed a plan for an even more ambitious system that would protect not just the United States but its allies.
But Hain said he was sure the Bush administration understood fears that the plans might threaten existing treaties.
"There is an understanding, and I'm sure there will be from President Bush's administration ... that nobody wants to breach treaties and trigger extra tension and a possible arms race.
"That's why the Americans are discussing this matter with the Russians, we welcome that, they are also discussing it with the Chinese, we welcome that."
US President Bill Clinton decided earlier this year to leave a final decision on whether to commit billions of dollars to developing the system to his successor -- LONDON (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
