U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates (C), with the tacit consent of NATO colleagues, showed to Russia that Washington will not retreat in the issue of missile defense in Eastern Europe.
Photo: AFP
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The U.S. Fends Off Radar
// Russia will use the Gabalin radar alone
The United States officially declined on Friday Moscow’s suggestion about giving up the plan to deploy missile defense elements in Eastern Europe and jointly using the Gabalin radar in Azerbaijan. Moreover, NATO partners unanimously supported Washington’s intention. Thus, Moscow’s stake on enlisting Europe in the missile defense dispute failed. Even the upcoming meeting of presidents Vladimir Putin and George Bush on July 1st-2nd will hardly change the situation. It becomes almost inevitable that U.S. missile defense elements will appear near Russia’s borders.
“The United States implement their plans for deploying missile defense in Eastern Europe regardless of whether the agreement on Russia’s alternative offer is reached or not. We see the Azeri radar as an additional capability, and we intend to proceed with the radar, the X-band radar in the Czech Republic. We will build the missile shield in Europe even despite Russia’s objections,” said U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, speaking in Brussels on Friday at the closing of the two-day ministerial council of NATO defense ministers.
Thus, Washington officially declined Moscow’s suggestion, delivered by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G8 summit, which urged the U.S. to give up its plan of deploying missile defense elements in Eastern Europe, and offered to jointly use the Gabalin radar in Azerbaijan. It became clear now: the U.S. will not agree to the missile deal with Russia.
Pentagon chief said: “I would be skeptical that our experts could fully consider Vladimir Putin’s offer before July 1st, when his talks with President Bush begin.” So, the Putin-Bush meeting, on which Moscow lays big hopes, will hardly change anything in the missile defense situation. Therefore, it becomes almost inevitable that U.S. missile defense elements will appear near Russia’s borders.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of June 16, 2007
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