Germany tells Russia "threats won't help" in missile dispute

The German government said Friday that "threats won't help" in settling the dispute over the U.S. missile shield in eastern Europe.

"We are firmly convinced that threats will not help," government spokesman Thomas Steg said after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Thursday that Moscow might suspend its obligations under the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE).

Steg said that German Chancellor Angela Merkel remained committed to "a climate of mutual confidence and a culture of dialogue," adding that no "wrong signal" should be sent.

Germany and Europe remained "interested in a strategic partnership with Russia," he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his state-of-the-nation speech on Tuesday that Russia would withdraw from the CFE, if its security concerns over the deployment of missile shield in Eastern Europe were not properly addressed by the United States. The CFE treaty, signed in 1990 between NATO member countries and those of the rival Warsaw Pact, regulates the deployment of conventional weapons in and around the European continent.

Germany, which holds the current presidency of the European Union, has urged that the issue be discussed within the framework of NATO.

Source: Xinhua