“The idea that this could be an obstacle to the ongoing work with START is not accurate,” said the spokesman of the White House Robert Gibbs to the press, adding that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had not presented this issue as an obstacle in his recent telephone conversation with President Barack Obama.

Tuesday morning, General Nikolai Makarov, Chief of Staff of Russian armed, said the U.S. missile shield in Europe threatens the national security of Russia and has a very negative effect on negotiations for a new treaty to replace the treaty to reduce strategic arms (START), which expired last December 5.

On September 17, 2009, President Obama announced the abandonment of the missile defense program’s controversial Bush era, considered by the Kremlin as a serious threat to the national interests of Russia, but found “a gradual approach and adaptive” for missile defense on the continent.

The Pentagon said that the new defense plan, which should be applied from 2011 to 2020, support the homeland defense of the United States against the threat of ballistic missiles at long range, enhance force protection and civilian personnel deployed U.S. and that of their families who accompagent against the missile threat from Iran.

“The changing architecture of a missile defense plan that protected Europe and has protected this country in a better way was announced last September, so far we have had extensive negotiations for months,” said Gibbs.

According to the spokesman, the U.S. and Russian negotiators are trying to develop a new treaty, under which the number of nuclear warheads for each party must be reduced between 1500 and 1675, while the number of launchers will be limited between 500 to 1,000.

President Obama and President Medvedev see the screening process as an essential step in strengthening mutual trust between the two countries and vowed to work together to ensure that a new treaty of strategic arms control comes into force as soon as possible.

The agreement, which shall remain valid for a period of 49 years at least, was signed by officials of the respective defense in the presence of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh.

“These documents are fully consistent with our vision on cooperation with Abkhazia and our international obligations,” Medvedev said at a press conference after his meeting with Mr Bagapsh the Kremlin.

“The essential idea is that these agreements constitute a foundation for the development of Abkhazia as an independent state,” he said, quoted by Russian news agencies.

Russia has deployed 1 700 troops in Abkhazia with headquarters in Gudat, former Soviet military base situated on the coast of the Black Sea.

Russia and Georgia objected during a five-day war in August 2008, Georgia has attacked South Ossetia, another Georgian rebel region, to regain control of the insurgent region bordering Russia . Moscow was in response sent his troops to expel Georgian forces in the region.

Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia August 26, 2008, two weeks after the end of this conflict.

Georgia and the West have condemned plans by Russia to establish a military presence in Abkhazia, which they see as a territory under the sovereignty of the Georgian state.

“The term ‘crippling sanctions’ against Iran is totally unacceptable to us. Sanctions should aim to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation, “said Riabkov quoted by Interfax.

“We certainly can not consider sanctions that would be interpreted as punishment against the entire country and its people for certain actions taken or not,” said Riabkov.

The position of Russia on the Iranian nuclear issue remains unchanged, “he stressed. “We have always been favorable to the resolution of problems concerning the Iranian nuclear program through dialogue and, if possible, by interactions with Iran,” he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, visiting Russia earlier this week, said that “crippling sanctions” should be imposed immediately against the energy sector of Iran.

Mr. Riabkov also confirmed that Russia would honor its contract to supply systems for air defense S-300 to Iran.

Iran has concluded several years ago with Russia an agreement to purchase S-300 systems, but Russia has experienced delays in delivery of these anti-aircraft missiles.

The S-300 is an advanced mobile system capable of moving more than 2 km per second to shoot down aircraft and cruise missiles with a range of up to 150 km.

The United States and Israel have tried to persuade Russia not to sell missile system to Iran because it could thwart attempts to target the nuclear facilities in the country with an airstrike.