Results 1 to 2 of 2

Thread: Russian Nuclear Sites Possible In Belarus

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    America
    Posts
    30,749

    Russian Nuclear Sites Possible In Belarus

    Russian nuclear sites possible in Belarus - envoy

    http://in.reuters.com/article/worldN...29177920070827

    Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:40PM IST

    MINSK (Reuters) - Russia may consider deploying new nuclear facilities in Belarus in response to a U.S. plan to operate a missile shield in eastern Europe, Russia's ambassador in Minsk was quoted as saying on Monday.

    Belarus, an ex-Soviet state led by President Alexander Lukashenko, is accused in the West of crushing basic rights.

    It has planned some form of integration with Russia since the mid-1990s, although proposals to create a "union state" have stalled as relations have cooled in recent years, particularly over price rises for Russian energy.

    Lukashenko, a fierce opponent of U.S. foreign policy, has periodically suggested he might take retaliatory measures in conjunction with the Kremlin against the planned shield.

    "This depends on the level of our political integration," ambassador Alexander Surikov told Interfax Zapad news agency.

    "It also depends on the views of experts, diplomats and the military. Is it necessary and possible, when and how? I am talking about sites linked to nuclear weapons."

    Belarus's Foreign Ministry noted that the country already hosted Russian military facilities, but officials in Minsk and Moscow had so far held no discussions on a nuclear deployment.

    "Time will tell whether such a discussion will actually take place," ministry spokeswoman Maria Vanshina said.

    A leader of the liberal and nationalist opposition suggested the ambassador's statement was no more than a bargaining chip in talks between Moscow and Washington. He said Belarussians, the people most affected by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, would not tolerate such a nuclear deployment.

    "Only someone considering political suicide would start talks on deploying nuclear weapons," said Anatoly Lebedko, leader of the United Civic Party. "A majority of Belarussians would oppose this."

    Russia has denounced the U.S. plan to deploy elements of its missile shield on the territory of ex-Warsaw Pact states Poland and the Czech Republic, and has threatened to target its own missiles on Europe.

    President Vladimir Putin has instead proposed a collective missile shield in which Russia and European states could participate alongside the United States.

    Washington says the shield is designed to protect against attack from what it calls "rogue states", such as Iran and North Korea, but Moscow sees the missile system as a threat.

    Lukashenko, barred from the United States and the European Union over allegations that he rigged his re-election last year, said in July Belarus would disregard its economic rows with Russia and work closely to resist the planned shield.
    No One Knows Everything. Only Together May We Find The Truth JG


  2. #2
    AuGmENTor Guest
    I don't see Russias problem with this. I am certainly more receptive to a missle shield than I am to invading Iran. How does it hurt them?

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 09-25-2008, 11:15 PM
  2. Replies: 1
    Last Post: 08-16-2006, 05:00 PM
  3. Bush Plans Strike On Iran's Nuclear Sites
    By Gold9472 in forum The New News
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 04-08-2006, 07:40 PM
  4. Replies: 1
    Last Post: 02-12-2006, 01:08 AM
  5. Replies: 2
    Last Post: 08-25-2005, 12:44 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •