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Moscow Denies It Slashed Crude Supplies to Czech Republic Because of Missile Defense
The agreement of the Czech Republic to host components of the U.S. missile defense system won’t impair trading and economic relations with Russia, the Czech officials assured. According to Moscow, the decision to slash crude oil supplies to the Czech Republic hasn't resulted from Prague’s agreement to build the U.S. radar.
“I can only confirm anew that these two events have no connection whatsoever,” RIA Novosti quoted as saying Russia’s Vice Premier Alexander Zhukov, who co-chairs the RF-Czech intergovernmental commission.
At the same time, Russia has repeatedly voiced its concern about the deployment of the U.S. missile defense system in Europe, in particular in Poland and in the Czech Republic.
The supplies of Russia’s crude oil to the Czech Republic have been shedding since mid-summer. Moscow blames the reduction on the absence of direct contracts of Russia’s suppliers and Czech buyers. But some experts say that the true reason is the Czech Republic’s agreement to host components of the U.S. missile defense system.
“Russia generally views the Czech party as a reliable and promising trade partner,” Zhukov assured.
Czech Minister for Industry and Trade Martin Riman, who co-chairs the commission on behalf of the Czech Republic, recalled past year’s official visit of then Russia’s president Vladimir Putin. During that visit, Riman pointed out, Vladimir Putin vowed that the issue wouldn’t affect trade and economic cooperation of Russia and the Czech Republic. A year and a half later, Riman emphasized, one can say that Putin’s words materialized and the cooperation develops successfully and at unheard-of rates.
www.kommersant.com
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