Dempsey "committed' to missile defense deal with Russia

http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/policy-and-strategy/287119-dempsey-qcommitted-to-missile-defense-deal-with-russia-

Dempsey "committed' to missile defense deal with Russia
By Carlo Muñoz - 03/08/13 04:55 PM ET

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey remains "committed" to finding common ground with his Russian counterparts on ballistic missile defense, and will carry that message to Moscow during an upcoming visit to the region.

Dempsey will meet with Gen. Valery Gerasimov, Russia's top military officer, within the coming weeks, the four-star general's spokesman Col. David Lapan told The Hill on Friday.

Discussion topics and specific dates of the bilateral visit are still being worked between Washington and Moscow, the simmering issue of U.S. efforts to extend ballistic missile defense capabilities into eastern Europe will likely be at the top of those discussions.

"I personally believe that we will find common ground with the Russian military," Dempsey said, according to Lapan.