– to promote a contradictory policy vis-à-vis Russia by offering in general cooperation, but denying Russian integration into BMD, and then pointing out the threat of short range (Russian) missiles.

3. This Decision is without prejudice to the right of Member States to allow the use of the frequency bands under less restrictive conditions or for short-range devices which are not part of the harmonised category provided that this does not prevent or reduce the possibility for short-range devices of such a category to rely on the appropriate set of harmonised technical and operational conditions, as specified in the Annex to this Decision, which allow the shared use of a specific part of the spectrum on a non-exclusive basis and for different purposes by short range devices of the same category’.

The Obama Administration is trying to address such a position by shifting defence from the long-range to the short- and medium-range missile threat, thus increasing the direct protection of Europe, and apparently by accepting Russian cooperation through providing a radar facility in the Caucasus.

33. Welcomes the recent statements by US Vice-President Joe Biden at the European Security Conference in Munich indicating that the US will continue the consultations with its NATO allies and Russia on the US missile defence system and adding that the new administration would consider the costs and efficiency of the system; notes some signals from Russia that it would suspend the plans to station short-range Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad;

33. Welcomes the recent statements by US Vice-President Joe Biden at the European Security Conference in Munich indicating that the US will continue the consultations with its NATO allies and Russia on the US missile defence system and adding that the new administration would consider the costs and efficiency of the system; notes some signals from Russia that it would suspend the plans to station short-range Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad;

32. Welcomes the recent statements by US Vice-President Joe Biden at the European Security Conference in Munich indicating that the US will continue the consultations with its NATO allies and Russia on the US missile defence system and adding that the new administration would consider the costs and efficiency of the system; notes some signals from Russia that it would suspend the plans to station short-range Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad;