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Russia wants presence at Czech missile defence sites
Russia News.Net
Tuesday 21st October, 2008 (IANS)
Moscow, Oct 21 (RIA Novosti) Russia has said it will stop opposing the US-sponsored anti-missile radar system in the Czech Republic if Russian observers are permanently posted at the facilities.
Only this (the permanent deployment of Russian observers) could end Russia's objection to the project, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told journalists Monday.
'A one-off visit would not change anything, but only increase our suspicions,' he stressed.
The agreement to station a US tracking radar in the Czech Republic was signed July 8 by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg.
On Sep 19, Czech Defence Minister Vlasta Parkanova and US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates signed the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). The pact governs the deployment of US military personnel at the radar station.
The radar is part of a planned missile shield system which would also include the deployment of 10 interceptor missiles in Poland. The US says it needs the Central European shield to protect against attacks by 'rogue states' such as Iran.
The plans are fiercely opposed by Russia, which sees the missile shield as a threat to its national security and the international system of nuclear deterrence.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has vowed to 'respond appropriately' to the deployment of the missile shield.
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Comments on this story
Anonymous
10-21-08, 09:59 AM |
Russia wants presence at Czech missile defence sites
fair enough request if nato is genuine about setting this guard against iran and north korea. if they deny russia this request it would mean they are talking bullshit
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Syed Suhail Khalid
10-22-08, 03:04 AM |
NATO trustworthy?=pure nonsense!
South of Czech Republic is Austria,then Hungary,then Croatia, then Romania, then Serbia, then Bulgaria,then Montenegro,then Turkey,then Syria,then Iraq and then after this Iran.THe distance between Iran and Czech republic is 3367 kms.And North Korea is much further.And Czech Republic has not done any harm to Iran and North Korea.So they will not harm the Czechs.But Czech Republic is near to Russia.Distance between Prague and Moscow is 1664 kms only.And the Americans have a missile that can be fired over exACTLY a distance of 2000 kms.So trusting NATO is fool hardy.Russia can have its inspectors at the missile shield sites in Poland and Czech Republic.But once the missiles are fired by NATO,what can they do?
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waltky
11-25-08, 06:28 AM |
Russians tryin' to sway Obama...
:eek:
Russian PM Urges Obama to Scrap Missile Shield
24 November 2008 - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is urging U.S. President-elect Barack Obama to drop plans for a U.S. missile shield in eastern Europe, saying Moscow will respond appropriately to any such deployment.
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Mr. Putin spoke Monday in St. Petersburg, at a conference on humanitarian law. He said the U.S. project is aimed against what he called Russia’s strategic potential. The Bush administration says the 10 missile interceptors and guidance radar it wants to deploy in Poland and the Czech Republic are aimed at protecting U.S. allies in Europe from potential attacks by Iran.
Moscow has threatened to deploy missiles on the European Union border if the U.S. plan goes through. But today, Mr. Putin said there will be no Russian deployment if the perceived threat ceases to exist. Sunday, President Medvedev said Mr. Obama may be willing to scrap the shield and that he appears more cautious on the issue.
He also said the Bush administration is inflexible on the matter. An Obama aide said earlier this month that Mr. Obama did not commit to the missile system during a telephone call to Polish President Lech Kaczynski. The aide said Mr. Obama only supports such a plan when technology proves it can work.
[url:
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-11-24-voa82.cfm[/url]
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