Paris, 5 March 2001.- Led by its chairman David ATKINSON, the Technological and Aerospace Committee of the WEU Assembly – the interim European Security and Defence Assembly -visited Moscow for talks with high level representatives of the Russian Parliament and the Russian Government between 19 and 21 February. On the Russian side key participants were the President of the International Affairs Committee at the DUMA, Mr ROGOZIN, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, General MANILOV, and the Director of Security and Disarmament at the Foreign Ministry, Mr KAPROLOV.
 
The Russian representatives stressed their concerns about the American project for a National Missile Defence (NMD). International security should above all be enhanced through strict non-proliferation, arms control and the reinforcement of early warning systems. Any response to potential strategic threats should be established jointly by the European countries, the United States and Russia. The Russian Government would pursue its initiatives for the establishment of a common system of protection against such threats.