NATO expects Russian missile shield accord

MOSCOW, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- NATO's secretary-general said Friday he expects an agreement with Russia on a missile defense by the middle of next year.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen said NATO member states might be able to declare interim operational capability of a missile shield during the alliance's 2012 summit in Chicago May 20-21, the official Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported.

Russia and NATO agreed to cooperate on a European missile defense system at the Lisbon Summit in November 2010.

A proposal put forward by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev calls for Russia to be responsible for shooting down missiles aimed at NATO members that pass through its airspace or sector.

In return, NATO members would shoot down missiles aimed at Russia.

To date, NATO has refused to provide legally binding guarantees that its missiles would not be directed at Russia, RIA Novosti said.

Moscow said such a guarantee is the only way to prevent a new arms race.