Berlin - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier welcomed Friday Russia's decision to suspend the deployment of short-range missiles along the Baltic Sea.

Speaking in the German parliament, Steinmeier called the Russian move a "good sign."

He said US President Barack Obama's arrival in office gave an "opportunity, which we must now use," to push forward disarmament.

"I believe that the course will be set this year for disarmament policies over the next 10 years."

At the same time however, the foreign minister warned against overrating the Russian move. "One swallow does not make a summer," Steinmeier said.

Russia halted plans to deploy Iskander missiles in its European enclave of Kaliningrad on Wednesday, responding to signals that the new Obama administration would review its missile shield project to be stationed in the Czech Republic and Poland. (dpa)