Russia denounces US-Poland missile defense deal
Washington, 15 August (IranVNC)—Russian officials today condemned the US-Poland defense deal signed yesterday, saying the system is not aimed at defending Europe from future attacks by “rogue states”, such as Iran, but in light of the recent conflict in Georgia is aimed at Russia instead.
By: IranVNC
Published: Friday, August 15, 2008
10:08GMT—6:08AM/EST
RUSSIA – US – POLAND – MISSILE DEFENSE
Washington, 15 August (IranVNC)—Russian officials today condemned the US-Poland defense deal signed yesterday, saying the system is not aimed at defending Europe from future attacks by “rogue states”, such as Iran, but in light of the recent conflict in Georgia is aimed at Russia instead.
"This decision clearly demonstrates everything we have said recently," Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said today. "The deployment of new anti-missile forces has as its aim the Russian Federation,” reports Reuters.
Poland and America signed a preliminary deal yesterday after two days of talks that would partly base the US missile shield in Poland. The deal has worsened the already heightened international tensions over Russia’s recent invasion of Georgia in the South Ossetian conflict.
Chief US negotiator John Rood insists that the deal “is an important agreement for the security of the United States, for the security of Poland and the security of our NATO allies,” AFP reports.
The deputy head of Russia’s General Staff, Colonel-General Anatoly Nogovitsyn, told a news conference today that the U.S is “aggravating relations” by pursuing the defense system, according to Reuters.
The White House maintains its position on the purpose of the missile shield as being aimed at rogue states, such as Iran, and completely denies any military aim against Russia, despite the US position on Russia’s disproportionate aggression in Georgia.
“In no way is the President’s plan for the missile defense aimed at Russia. In fact it’s not even logically possibly for it to be aimed at Russia, given how Russia could overwhelm it,” said White House spokesperson Dana Perino yesterday.
Perino went on to deny the “curious timing” of the deal, by stating that the agreement has been in negotiations for months, and was parallel to a similar deal recently finalized with the Czech Republic.
The plan includes setting up 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar facility in the Czech Republic by 2011-2013. The system would complement the US defense system already in place in the U.S., Greenland and the UK, reports AFP.
Sources: Agence France-Presse, Reuters, White House website
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