Russia Renews Warning on US Missile Sites
Source: Alalam.ir, 10-9-2008
MOSCOW--Russia repeated warnings that its ballistic rockets could be aimed at US missile sites in Europe if the system is ever built, a Russian defense official was quoted by news agencies Wednesday.
Commander of Russia's strategic missile forces Col. Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov said Moscow does not rule out an attack on the planned facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic and other similar facilities in the future.
He made the remark a day before Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visits Poland, which has agreed to accept US missile interceptors.
Poland and the US reached a deal last month on building the site for 10 US missile interceptors by 2012.
Observers said the conclusion of the deal, clinched after months of protracted negotiations, was prompted by Russia's war last month with Georgia, which had alarmed former Soviet bloc countries and others neighboring Russia.
Russian officials have repeatedly said that they consider the site a threat and have threatened to attack Poland -- a NATO member -- possibly even with nuclear weapons.
"These 10 interceptor missiles cannot significantly devalue (Russia's) attack potential, although this will certainly make some negative effect on it. But the point is that the United States doesn't want to take on any legal obligations but is only asserting verbally: we aren't threatening you,'' Solovtsov was quoted by Interfax as saying.
"They already promised in words when they unified Germany that not a single NATO soldier would be there. And where are they now?'' he was quoted as saying.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was scheduled to go to Poland on Wednesday for talks with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and others.
MOSCOW--Russia repeated warnings that its ballistic rockets could be aimed at US missile sites in Europe if the system is ever built, a Russian defense official was quoted by news agencies Wednesday.
Commander of Russia's strategic missile forces Col. Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov said Moscow does not rule out an attack on the planned facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic and other similar facilities in the future.
He made the remark a day before Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visits Poland, which has agreed to accept US missile interceptors.
Poland and the US reached a deal last month on building the site for 10 US missile interceptors by 2012.
Observers said the conclusion of the deal, clinched after months of protracted negotiations, was prompted by Russia's war last month with Georgia, which had alarmed former Soviet bloc countries and others neighboring Russia.
Russian officials have repeatedly said that they consider the site a threat and have threatened to attack Poland -- a NATO member -- possibly even with nuclear weapons.
"These 10 interceptor missiles cannot significantly devalue (Russia's) attack potential, although this will certainly make some negative effect on it. But the point is that the United States doesn't want to take on any legal obligations but is only asserting verbally: we aren't threatening you,'' Solovtsov was quoted by Interfax as saying.
"They already promised in words when they unified Germany that not a single NATO soldier would be there. And where are they now?'' he was quoted as saying.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was scheduled to go to Poland on Wednesday for talks with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and others.
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