Rogozin Recalled as NATO Missile Defense Envoy

April 25, 2012 defpro.com (RIA Novosti)

MOSCOW | Outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday relieved Dmitry Rogozin of his duties as Russia's representative to NATO over a planned U.S.-led missile shield in Europe, the Kremlin's press service said, according to RIA Novosti.

Rogozin was recalled as Moscow's ambassador to the military alliance in December and promoted to deputy prime minister. Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko is widely tipped to succeed him.

The proposed missile shield remains a major source of tension between Russia and the United States, and the Kremlin has threatened to deploy tactical weapons close to Europe if it is not made full partner in the scheme.

Rogozin, former leader of the banned nationalist Motherland party, will stay on as head of a Kremlin working group on cooperation with NATO on missile defense issues, the Kremlin said.