Russia, China call for space weapons ban

GENEVA, Switzerland, March 7 (UPI) -- Russia and China say they want all countries to unite in declaring outer space off limits to weapons.

"Prevention of an arms race in space will contribute to ensuring the predictability of the strategic situation and preserving the orbital property," Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, said Saturday.

Speaking at a disarmament conference in Geneva, Switzerland, Lavrov and Chinese officials said any country using space for civilian and business purposes should be interested in keeping it free of weapons, RIA Novosti reported.

Lavrov also called for the world's countries to unite against missile expansion on Earth.

The Kremlin views U.S. plans to deploy a missile base in Poland as a threat to Russian security. U.S. President Barack Obama has indicated an interest in resolving the conflict with Russia diplomatically, RIA Novosti reported.