U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen disputed criticism by some Republican members of Congress that the recent U.S.-Russian accord signed in Helsinki would limit the ability of the Pentagon to develop battlefield missile defenses.

Cohen said nothing in the agreement "impedes" the ability of the U.S. to develop defenses against short-range missiles to protect U.S. troops on the battlefield, so-\called "theater missile defenses".

Cohen said, "As a matter of fact we did not give up anything that would impede our ability to conduct our theater missile defense testing system. This is completely in accord with the 1996 Defense Authorization Act, the so-called demarcation agreement, and nothing would preclude carrying out present plans. So it's entirely consistent with the act that was signed this past year, and I think it's a very good agreement for the United States."

Cohen noted that Russian President Boris Yeltsin came under sharp crtiticism upon his return to Moscow after the Helsinki summit with U.S. President Bill Clinton. "I notice from this morning's news that the Helsinki agreement was described by the Russian Duma as being a 'crushing defeat' for the Russians. So I would put it in the context that apparently they feel very badly about the agreement, that Russia up gave too much," Cohen said.

Cohen's comments came at a picture-taking session in his office as he welcomed visiting French Defense Minister Charles Millon.