The Yabloko faction of the State Duma considers the statement of US President George Bush on anti-ballistic missile defence “an invitation to negotiations”.

“These should be negotiations on the prospects for strategic stability in the world,” said Deputy Head of the Yabloko faction Sergei Ivanenko in an interview with the press on May 2,2001.

According to Ivanenko, “it is important for Russia to clearly state its position on defending the creation of a European anti-missile defence system, involving the participation of the military-industrial complex of our country.”

Ivanenko also drew the attention of the journalists to the fact that the proposals of Yabloko’s leader GrigoryYavlinsky set this goal.

“The initiative in the resolution of this complicated issue should come from both sides to avoid the deadlock which Russia, the USA and European countries may encounter in connection with the intention of the American side to leave the 1972 ABM Treaty,” stressed Ivanenko.

Based on Interfax reports.