Iran Says U.S. Case for Europe Anti-Missile Shield Is a `Joke'
By Ed Johnson
June 4 (Bloomberg) -- [color=red]The U.S. case for a missile defense shield to protect Europe from Iran is the ``joke of the year'' because Iranian weapons cannot reach the continent, said Ali Larijani, the country's chief nuclear negotiator.[/color]
Iran has no intention of attacking its most important commercial partner, the official Islamic Republic News Agency cited Larijani as saying yesterday. ``Iranian missiles do not reach Europe'' and it's hard to believe U.S. authorities don't know that, Larijani said, according to the report.
The U.S. plans to base interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic as part of a system it says is necessary to defend against long-range missile attacks from countries such as Iran. Russia opposes the planned shield, saying it will threaten Russian security. The issue has strained U.S.-Russian relations and last week the government in Moscow said it successfully tested a weapon it claimed was immune to all defense shields.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week the planned shield risked turning Europe into a ``powder keg.'' He dismissed American concerns that Iran could threaten the U.S. and Europe. Iranian missiles now have a maximum range of 1,100 miles (1,700 kilometers) and by 2012 they may have missiles with a range of 1,500 miles, too short to justify a missile shield, Putin said.
The U.S. and Iran severed diplomatic ties in 1979 after the taking of hostages at the U.S. embassy in the Iranian capital, Tehran. The U.S. is leading international efforts to increase sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. The Bush administration is also demanding Iran stop arming Shiite militias in neighboring Iraq.
Putin says missile tests were response to NATO's actions
31/ 05/ 2007
MOSCOW, May 31 (RIA Novosti) - [color=red]Russia's president said Thursday his country's recent tests of new ballistic missiles and possible withdrawal from an arms control treaty are a direct response to harsh, unreasonable actions by NATO countries.[/color]
Russia to reply adequately to U.S. missile shield in Europe - FM
05/ 06/ 2007
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
SEOUL, June 5 (RIA Novosti) - [color=red]Russian military will make decisions necessary for the country's national defense, in response to U.S. plans to deploy elements of its missile shield in Central Europe, the Russian foreign minister said Tuesday.[/color]
Russia has responded angrily to U.S. plans, announced in January, to deploy interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar base in the Czech Republic to counter possible missiles attacks from rogue states such as Iran and North Korea.
[color=red]"Everything that we have done and will do is based on our responsibility and the responsibility of the Russian government to do everything possible to avoid new threats that Russia may be subjected to," Sergei Lavrov said. "That is why military planners have the right to make decisions, which are necessary to defend the country."[/color]
Speaking Friday ahead of a summit of the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the United States' mooted missile bases in Europe would be part of the U.S. nuclear arsenal and that Russia could be forced to aim its nuclear weapons at Europe.
"If part of the U.S.' strategic nuclear arsenal is located in Europe and our military experts find that it poses a threat to Russia, we will have to take appropriate retaliatory steps," he said "We will have new targets in Europe."
The Russian president is set to meet with U.S. President George W. Bush, along with other G8 leaders at Germany's Baltic resort of Heiligendamm, at the G8 summit from June 6 to 8.
Putin also said Washington's proposal to Russia to cooperate in the missile defense sphere was limited to Russia providing its missiles for target practice, which was an unreasonable offer.
[color=red]"Our American partners want us to provide them with our missiles as targets, so that they can conduct exercises using our missiles. This is just brilliant. What a great idea they've thought up."[/color]
Russia already tested last week a new ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads and a new cruise missile, saying the tests were part of Moscow's response to the U.S. anti-missile plans.
Czechs have staged another protest against US plans to build a radar station in their country as part of a missile defence shield - and the issue looks set to overshadow US President George Bush's visit to Prague on 4-5 June.
The rally was not large - but polls show most Czechs oppose the base The US says expanding the defence system will protect both America and Europe from any attack by Iran or other so-called "rogue states".
But the Czech government, which has launched formal talks on the base with Washington, appears to be having difficulty persuading its citizens.
Neighbouring Poland - set to host US interceptor rockets - has seen similar protests.
Matthew Tempest and agencies Monday December 4, 2006 Guardian Unlimited
Tony Blair today recommended that Britain renew its Trident nuclear deterrent into at least the middle of the century, calling it "the ultimate insurance". But the prime minister told MPs it would be possible to cut Britain's stockpile by 20%, leaving fewer than 160 operationally available warheads. However, he did not announce a reduction in the number of Trident-carrying submarines based at the Faslane base in Scotland from four to three, instead saying a decision would wait until more detailed designs of submarines was available.
Trident - Britain's weapon of mass destruction Trident is a US nuclear system. The US provides assistance to Britain with its nuclear programme under the 1958 US-UK Mutual Defence Agreement.
The UK Trident uses US Trident II D5 missiles, which are maintained and tested in the United States. The UK Trident warhead is closely based on the US Trident W76 warhead and was tested at the US Nevada Test Site. The UK maintains close links with the US nuclear weapons laboratories, on "stockpile stewardship", ie maintaining and developing nuclear warheads. The UK relies on US satellite navigation, intelligence and targetting information UK nuclear policy is closely synchronised with the US and NATO.
Nuclear Weapons Inspectors stopped by police at Aldermaston
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The former Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, has blamed the US for the current state of relations between Russia and the West. In a BBC interview, Mr Gorbachev said that the Russians were ready to be constructive, but America was trying to squeeze them out of global diplomacy.
He added that the Iraq War had undermined Tony Blair's credibility.
Mr Gorbachev accused America of "empire-building", which he said the UK should have warned it away from.
President Bush risked further anger from the Kremlin today when he said that democracy in Russia had suffered under Vladimir Putin's rule.
Just hours before his arrival at the G8 summit in Germany — where proceedings have already been overshadowed by a row over America's plans to install missile interceptors in Eastern Europe — Mr Bush did little to improve the chill in relations between Moscow and the West.
Delivering a prepared speech in the Czech Republic, an erstwhile Soviet satellite that could soon house a US missile tracking facility, Mr Bush listed a number of countries where democracy was partial or where recent freedoms were in danger.
MOSCOW. (Military commentator Viktor Safonov for RIA Novosti) - In late May, it was 10 years since the signing of the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security between NATO and Russia. The Rome Declaration, which established the Russia-NATO Council, has its fifth anniversary at about the same time.
Both dates are a good opportunity to analyze the uphill road traversed by the parties and to think about prospects of cooperation. Skeptics maintain that an attempt at partnership has failed. Are they right or does it have a future?
Let's not rush to conclusions, although there are few grounds for optimism. Speaking at the NATO-Russia summit in Oslo this winter, the then Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov bluntly accused Brussels of cheating. "During NATO's initial expansion we were strongly reassured that there will be no NATO military infrastructure on the new members' territory. We have been simply cheated," he said. "We do not see why NATO military facilities should approach Russia's borders. Are we threatening anyone?" he queried.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed the same idea when he criticized NATO allies at a news conference after his talks with the Greek president: "When our American partners walked out of the ABM Treaty, we told them right away that we would respond in order to preserve the world's strategic balance. We warned them that our answer would be asymmetrical," he said. This is how Putin explained the latest missile test launches (MIRVed RS-24 strategic missile) from the Topol-M's mobile platform and the R-500 cruise missile from tactical Iskander's mobile platform.
Talking about NATO's failure to comply with the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE), Putin said: "We are not the initiators of the new round in the arms race. A new facility in Bulgaria, another in Romania, deployment of a new missile in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic - what are we supposed to do? We cannot monitor these treaties and abide by them single-handedly," Putin said. "We have said: either you ratify the CFE Treaty and comply with it, or we will withdraw from it. Obviously, some do not like our position. The president reassured the world that there was "no need to be alarmed by Russia's actions; they are not aggressive but merely a response to rather tough and unjustified actions taken by our partners."
NATO officials immediately replied they were worried not about Russia's missile tests but about its rhetoric, which portrayed the bad United States and the bad Poland as a threat to Russia's security.
The Russian leaders proceed from hard facts. In the founding act the NATO countries pledged themselves not to deploy any substantial military contingents and create military infrastructures on the Russian borders, but the Pentagon is stationing new facilities in Bulgaria and Romania and is getting ready to send 5,000 men to each.
When Moscow charges Brussels with violating the Paris agreements, it replies that these are bilateral relations of two sovereign NATO members - the United States and Romania or the United States and Bulgaria, and that the alliance has nothing to do with them. But this position is strange - NATO is relieving itself of responsibility for its members' violations of their commitments.
Likewise, NATO members, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, have not joined the CFE Treaty. The United States is deploying its ABM elements in Poland and the Czech Republic. When it suits its interests, NATO acts according to the one-for-all-and-all-for-one principle (as it was the case with Estonia, which has made a scandalous decision to transfer the graves of the Soviet soldiers who had fought against the Nazis). But this principle is forgotten when it does not come in handy, as was the case with Bulgaria and Romania, Poland and the Czech Republic. Moreover, high-ranking officials like NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer insist that these unilateral actions by Washington enhance the security of not only the United States and Europe, but also Russia.
Obviously, Russia-NATO and Russia-U.S. relations are in a serious crisis, although the situation is not yet as bad as it was in 1999 when NATO started bombing Serbian territory. Moscow stopped all relations with Brussels and told its representatives to leave the Russian capital within 48 hours.
The NATO Information Office and the NATO Military Liaison Mission work near the Kremlin. The Russian State Duma has recently ratified an agreement on temporary access of NATO troops to Russian territory for joint exercises. Russian ships are taking part in NATO's program code-named Active Endeavor in the Mediterranean. Recently, Northern Fleet ships left Severomorsk to participate in NATO maneuvers in the Atlantic. NATO members are funding training for reserve officers in Moscow and other big Russian cities. The Russian Emergencies Ministry is working with its NATO counterparts on preventing man-made and natural disasters. This list is not complete.
But at the same time, the Russian Foreign Ministry has already initiated the convocation of an extraordinary conference on the CFE Treaty scheduled for June 12-15 in Vienna. Russia is going to suspend its participation in the treaty. It will not receive foreign military inspections or tell its partners about the movement of its troops in its European part until NATO countries ratify the treaty and carry it out just as Russia has done.
Today, Moscow and Brussels should listen to each other's concerns and consider them in decision-making as stipulated by the founding act and the Rome Declaration. If they do not do this, they can forget about these anniversaries as the jubilees of vain hopes, but this will not be in the interests of either party.
Putin Warns - Russia Must Respond To Bush Nuclear Provocation On Its Borders
LaRouche PAC 6-5-7
On the eve of his visit to Germany for the G-8 Summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin granted an exclusive interview to a group of leading press from the 7 non-Russian summit nations, including the London Times, the Corriere della Sera (Italy) and Germany'sSpiegel weekly.
In regard to the U.S. deployment of missile defense systems on the Russian border, Putin said (excerpts taken from the Spiegel interview): "Once the new missile system is established, it will function in an automatic mode, linked to the entire nuclear potential of the USA. For the first time in history, components of the American nuclear system will be established on the European continent - that changes the whole configuration of international security. We are being told that this is to protect against Iranian missiles.
But these do not exist: Iran does not have missiles with a range of 5,000 to 8,000 kilometers. A wall of protection is being built here against something that does not exist. There is no reason for such a missile defense system in Europe. We, however, are forced to respond to that."
Putin said he still hopes that the USA will find a way back to a dialogue based on reason, but "if that fails, we have to react the missile defense system only creates the illusion of protection - but in theory, the likelihood of unleashing a nuclear conflict will even increase.
The global strategic balance is disrupted. To restore it, we have to create a system to outflank these American waepons." Putin added his suspicion that the missile issue is pushed by the USA with the intent to provoke a Russian counterreaction and "prevent further cooperation between Russia and Europe." The Times reports that Putin said that "we will need to establish such systems which would be able to penetrate the (US) missile defense systems. What kind of means will be used to hit the targets that our military believe are potential threats - ballistic missiles, or cruise missiles, or some kind of new weapons system?"
One does not need the clairvoyant gnome Oskar Matzerath in Guenter Grass's allegorical novel The Tin Drum to scream and tell us in a voice that can break thick glass jars that looking from Germany's Baltic resort of Heiligendamm, where the annual Group of Eight summit commenced on Wednesday, that the horizons to the east of the Vistula are getting very dark, heavy with storm clouds.
MOSCOW -- Russia does not even have any plans to develop intermediate- or medium-range ballistic missiles, whereas the United States is intensively developing submarine-based, medium-range missiles. Moreover, frightened Europe will turn to its big brother for protection. In that case, the deployment of U.S. medium-range missiles would create a worse headache for the Russian strategic nuclear force than it did in the 1980s, because now NATO is much closer to the Russian border and its missiles could reach our launch sites in a matter of minutes.
The Russian Defense Ministry argues that it is capable of resuming the production of ballistic missiles with a range of 300 miles to 3,000 miles. These could be medium-range RSD-10 Pioneers of Soviet make, destroyed under the INF Treaty, or the latest Iskander systems.
Indeed, the Pioneer was a good missile, and the Soviet military mourned its destruction. But unlike its successor, Topol, it was not capable of evading an ABM system. This year we will have to muster all our efforts in order to produce 17 Topol-M missiles, as opposed to the three made in 2006.
At a recent news conference, Col. Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov, the commander of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces, said that the Russian strategic nuclear force will receive seven Topol-M launchers in 2007.
Of the five tests of the new Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile, four were unsuccessful, which may be a serious obstacle to deploying them as planned on the new Borey class, or Project 955, submarines.
On top of all that, there are the unforeseen expenses of intermediate- and shorter-range missiles. The scientific editor of the magazine Arms Export, Mikhail Barabanov, has calculated that manufacturing 50-100 medium-range missiles would cost the same as producing several dozen Topol-M ICBMs. It is better to have an all-purpose Topol than an upgraded Pioneer of limited use.
As for short-range missiles -- those that can hit targets 300 miles to 600 miles away -- there is a proposal to increase the range of the Iskander tactical systems from 160 miles to 300 miles. A mere 60 systems would be required in the next nine years. But a range of 300 miles is not the same as one of between 300 miles and 600 miles. Listing Iskanders in the category of short-range missiles is just wishful thinking.
Russia awaits U.S. response on new radar proposal - senior MP
08/ 06/ 2007
MOSCOW, June 8 (RIA Novosti) - [color=red]U.S. reaction to Russia's proposal to jointly use a radar in Azerbaijan as part of a global missile shield will show Washington's motives behind its planned missile defense system in Europe[/color], a senior Russian lawmaker said Friday.
The presidents of Russia and the United States agreed Thursday to cooperate on missile defense issues, and Vladimir Putin offered the U.S. joint use of the Gabala radar installation in Azerbaijan in an apparent attempt to ease tensions sparked by Washington's missile shield plans.
"The U.S. response to the Russian proposal will reveal whether the Americans are really concerned about the threats coming from certain global regions, which are common for both Russia and the United States," said Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the International Affairs Committee at the lower house of the Russian parliament.
The meeting in Germany's Baltic resort of Heiligendamm was the leaders' first since Washington announced earlier this year that it was expanding its missile shield to sites in the Czech Republic and Poland, allegedly to counter a potential threat from Iran and North Korea.
The Kremlin initially responded angrily to the U.S. plans, citing threats to national security, and warned that U.S. missile bases in Europe could become targets of Russian pinpoint strikes.
The bilateral discussions on the sidelines of a G8 summit lasted around one hour, and also involved White House National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley. After the talks, Bush did not give a specific response to Putin's proposal, but said his Russian counterpart had made some "interesting suggestions." However, Hadley went a step further, saying Washington was willing to study the offer.
[color=red]"If the Americans reject Russia's offer under a certain pretext, we will know for sure that their true goal is not only to stave off a potential threat from Iran or North Korea, but also to neutralize Russia's nuclear potential, which we could have assumed earlier," Kosachev said.
The Gabala radar station, which Russia leases from Azerbaijan, is the most powerful in the region. It has a range of about 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles) and enables Russia's Space Forces to monitor launches of intercontinental ballistic and other missiles in Asia and parts of Africa.[/color]
Russia's First Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Belousov said Friday the Gabala radar was capable of detecting all launches of ballistic missiles from the southern direction.
[color=red]"Why build something new, for instance, in the Czech Republic or Poland, if we already have everything," Belousov said, referring to the radar capabilities in Azerbaijan.[/color]
Azerbaijan's foreign minister reiterated Friday the Caucasus state was ready to start talks with Russia and the United States on the joint use of its Gabala radar station.
"Russia has approached us with an initiative to use the radar along with the U.S.," Elmar Mamedyarov said. "Azerbaijan is prepared to start consultations in a bilateral and three-party format."
The radar was leased to Russia for 10 years in 2002. It is an early warning system capable of tracing ballistic missiles and other flying objects with high accuracy. The station, Russia's only military facility in Azerbaijan, plays a significant role in the Russian air defense system.
Kosachev said that if the U.S. accepted Russia's proposal, it would mark the beginning of a new kind of partnership between Moscow and Washington because "for the first time some elements of the Russian and U.S. missile defenses would be integrated, leading to cooperation in response to mutual threats, rather than rivalry."
By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV, Associated Press Writer 20 minutes ago
HEILIGENDAMM, Germany - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that U.S. missile defense interceptors could be located in Turkey, or even Iraq or on sea platforms, offering yet another alternative to an American plan for a missile shield in eastern Europe.
"They could be placed in the south, in U.S. NATO allies such as Turkey, or even Iraq," Putin said at a news conference after the close of the Group of Eight summit. "They could also be placed on sea platforms."
Putin's proposal on missile defense interceptors followed his surprise suggestion Thursday to President Bush to share use of the huge Soviet-era radar at Gabala in northeast Azerbaijan, now leased by Russia.
The proposal came after Putin spent weeks bitterly denouncing a U.S. proposal to build the missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic, to defend against a future missile threat from Iran.
As he spoke Friday, a man threw a handful of leaflets into the air, momentarily disrupting the briefing.
NATO assimilating new military theater on Russian border
2004-04-22
The appearance of NATO aircraft on the Russian border indicates that NATO has begun assimilating a new theater of military operations, according to Colonel-General Leonid Ivashov, vice-president of the State Academy for Geopolitical Research.
As reported by a Rosbalt correspondent, the general made the remarks at a press conference Wednesday, saying that while the appearance of NATO aircraft on Russia's border means little at first glance, if one takes into account the installation of radar sites in the Baltic countries, the modernization of six airfields, the increasing of their operational capacity and the organization of methods for the overflight of the Russian frontier, then it becomes clear that the alliance is assimilating a new theater of operations.
Ivashov said that the modernization of airfields in the Baltic countries and the increase in their operational capacity is intended to accommodate 200 to 300 military aircraft. He said that NATO could potentially use those aircraft against Russia in the event of political or economic changes. He said that such economic changes might involve the possible redirection of gas deliveries from the west to the east. 'That would not necessarily lead to a military confrontation,' he said, 'but the military factor will weigh on Russia whenever it takes any political or economic decisions which affect NATO's interests.'
PARIS - As Washington and Moscow exchange increasingly angry accusations and rebukes these recent weeks, it is hard to avoid a sense of Cold War deja vu.
Last Tuesday, Russia launched with great fanfare a new RS-24 intercontinental ballistic missile that it claimed could penetrate new US anti-missile defenses. President Vladimir Putin warned the Bush Administration’s plans to deploy anti-missile radars and missiles in the Czech Republic and Poland would turn Europe into a `powder keg.’
Moscow accused the Bush Administration of violating international law, following double standards, and being a major violator of human rights. After crushing the life out of Chechnya, Russia was hardly in any position to lecture the US about human rights.
Washington fired back, accusing Putin of extinguishing democracy, silencing political opponents, and bullying his neighbors. The US, with 150,000 troops in Iraq, even had the nerve to accuse Russia of `meddling’ in the Mideast. The American pot was calling the Russian kettle black.
Behind the barrages of invective, what’s really going on is that Russia is finally returning to being Russia, as this writer has long predicted it would. Russia the lap dog is gone. The Russian bear has awakened from a hibernation of two decades and is both hungry and ill-tempered.
In the 1980’s, the reforming Mikhail Gorbachev sought to humanize and modernize the crumbling Soviet Union. Gorbachev ended his nation’s confrontation with the west and sought accommodation with Washington – far too much, claimed Russian critics. Gorbachev’s well-intentioned efforts failed. The once mighty Soviet Union collapsed, leaving bankruptcy and massive social suffering in its wake.
Boris Yeltsin, Gorbachev’s successor, allowed criminals and shady financers to plunder Russia. In a story that has yet to be fully revealed, his shaky, financially destitute government was propped up by billions in secret US payments. Washington more or less managed to buy up Russia’s government. In an outrageous, shameful act, the Yeltsin Kremlin even sold the Pentagon the crown jewels of Russia’s military technology. Everything and almost everyone was for sale.
During this period of weakness and corruption, bankrupt Russia allowed the US pretty much a free hand around the world, particularly in the Mideast. Russia’s defense spending plummeted. Washington hailed Moscow’s `cooperation.’
In 1999, the KGB, renamed FSB and SVR, staged a palace coup. Former FSB director Valdimir Putin became Russia’s new leader. President Putin and his hard men set about re-nationalizing Russia’s industrial and resource assets, crushing the robber barons, and restoring Kremlin political control over the nation.
Ironically, George Bush’s invasion of Iraq caused worldwide oil prices to surge, bringing Putin’s `new Russia’ a huge financial windfall. Russia, which produces more oil than Saudi Arabia, is flush with cash from its current oil, gas, and mineral bonanza, which has revitalized the nation’s defense budget.
Putin long made clear his desire to rebuild the Soviet Union – minus communism – and restore his nation as a world power. This means asserting Russia’s historic interests in Eastern Europe and the Mideast, using energy exports to advance foreign policy, and increasingly standing up to the United States.
There is nothing sinister about this development. The last 20 years of Russian history were an anomaly, rather like the feeble Kerensky government just prior top the 1917 revolution. Russia is off its knees and back on its feet. The days of Moscow’s unnatural accommodation with Washington are past.
The US has become too used to Moscow as a compliant vassal. Washington will now have to resume treating the Russians as a great power with legitimate international interests. The first step is reversing the Bush Administration’s contemptuous and dangerously reckless repudiation of major arms control treaties with Moscow.
The White House’s provocative plan to build anti-missile systems and open military bases in Eastern Europe should be cancelled. Pushing NATO all the way east to Russia’s borders has been another dangerous provocation.
Infuriating and humiliating Moscow in order to create a preposterous, technologically iffy anti-missile defenses against missiles and warheads which Iran does not even possess is the latest folly of the Bush Administration’s ideological crusaders.
The US is going to have to eventually share some of its world power with a renascent Russia and surging China. Treating both great powers with dignity and respect is a good way to start.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov - [color=blue]"The response to this strategic challenge will, of course, also be strategic,"[/color] he said but added that Russia would "prefer to work together, as President Vladimir Putin suggested at a meeting with President George W. Bush in Heiligendamm."
Czech govt. okays U.S. radar deployment near Prague
03/ 07/ 2007
WARSAW, July 3 (RIA Novosti) - [color=blue]The Czech government has given the U.S. the go ahead to deploy a missile-defense radar near the town of Misov, 90 kilometers (50 miles) southwest of Prague, the country's Security Council official said Tuesday.
Tomas Klvana, a Security Council spokesman, said the deployment of a U.S. missile-defense system two kilometers (1.2 miles) from Misov, in proximity to a military base, is the best possible option from the viewpoint of military and political security.[/color]
"The Security Council agreed with the Defense Ministry's proposals," he said, adding that the site would need to be thoroughly studied before a final decision is made.
The final decision on the deployment of a U.S. radar is to be made by the Czech parliament, with the opposition demanding a nationwide referendum on the issue.
The United States seeks to deploy 10 interceptors in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic, to protect itself and its European allies against a potential strike from Iran or some other "rogue state."
Russia is strongly opposed to the shield plan, and has dismissed arguments that it would make Europe a safer place.
President Vladimir Putin proposed in June that the U.S. use a powerful radar station Russia leases from the Caucasus state to monitor possible attacks from Iran and North Korea instead of opening installations in Central Europe, which Moscow regards as a threat to its security.
During his informal talks with George W. Bush Monday, Putin proposed that Russia and the United States could jointly use a radar in southern Russia, in addition to the early warning facility in Gabala in Azerbaijan.
He also proposed setting up a missile defense data exchange center in Moscow and Brussels, as well as expanding the number of countries involved in countering global challenges.
Russia aims to increase number of submarines in Black Sea Fleet
02/ 08/ 2007
SEVASTOPOL, August 2 (RIA Novosti) - Russia would like to increase the number of submarines in its Black Sea Fleet, but has so far been held back by Ukraine, Russian Navy Commander Admiral Vladimir Masorin said.
"In the future Russia's Black Sea Fleet [based in Ukraine's Crimea] should have a brigade consisting of 12-15 diesel submarines," Masorin said. The fleet currently has two diesel subs.
"We have been asking Ukraine to transfer a sub from the Northern Fleet to the Black Sea Fleet, but we have yet to resolve the issue," he said.
Masorin said in July that the construction of a new base for the Black Sea Fleet at the Russian port of Novorossiisk would be completed by 2012.
President Vladimir Putin signed a decree in 2003 setting up the alternative naval base for the Black Sea Fleet in Novorossiisk, after Ukraine demanded the base in Sevastopol, Crimea, be withdrawn by 2017.
The commander said that in Soviet times, there were about 60 diesel subs in the Black Sea Fleet. "There is no longer any need for such a number," he said.
Masorin said the construction of a third diesel sub named Sevastopol, from the Lada family, had recently been started. He also said the Black Sea Fleet would receive two new ships this year - The Admiral Zakharyin minesweeper and a Serna air-cavity landing craft.
Kiev has been pushing for the withdrawal of Russia's naval base in Sevastopol by 2017, in compliance with a previous bilateral agreement.
Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement in 1997 stipulating that the Black Sea Fleet's main base in Sevastopol be leased to Russia for 20 years, with the possibility of extending the term.
The annual rent of about $100 million is deducted from Ukraine's debt for Russian energy supplies. In addition to the main base, the Black Sea Fleet maintains two airfields and a ship re-supply facility on the Crimean Peninsula.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said in July the current rent could be increased in the future.
Putin praises new radar station near St. Petersburg
11/ 08/ 2007
ST. PETERSBURG, August 11 (RIA Novosti) - President Vladimir Putin said Saturday he was satisfied with the new Voronezh anti-missile radar station recently built near St. Petersburg.
Putin, who attended a session on the development of the aviation engines industry, said he hoped the Defense Ministry would ensure the unconditional implementation of all plans for the modernization of the Russian Army and Navy.
"This [radar] is the first step toward the implementation of the overall program, which is intended to be implemented by 2015," Putin said. "It is pleasant to note that it was achieved not only within the set timeframe, but also with the use of Russian intellectual and production means."
The radar station, located in Lekhtusi, near St. Petersburg, began operating December 22, 2006, and is capable of monitoring territory stretching from the North Pole to North Africa.
"This is what we, in effect, call the modern development of our Armed Forces - an innovative development of those Armed Forces. It is considerably less expensive, more effective and more reliable," he said.
He noted that former Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov devoted a great deal of time to the question of modernizing Russia's Armed Forces.
"I hope that the new military leadership will also do all it can to guarantee to realization of plans for the modernization of the Army and Navy," Putin said.
Москва. Небо над столицей прикроет новый "Триумф" К2Капитал 06.08.2007
Комплекс зинитно-ракетной системы С-400 "Триумф" заступит 6 августа на боевое дежурство в подмосковном городе Электросталь, сообщает агентство ИТАР-ТАСС.
В мероприятии постановки на боевое дежурство новой системы ПВО примут участие главнокомандующий Военно-воздушными силами России генерал-полковник Александр Зелин и представители коллектива НПО "Алмаз" имени академика А.А. Расплетина, где была разработана система С-400.
Зенитная ракетная система С-400 "Триумф" создана для поражения авиационной техники, созданной с использованием технологии "Stealth", а также малоразмерных крылатых и оперативно-тактических ракет. Более того, комплекс способен уничтожать такие сложные цели, как боевые блоки баллистических ракет с ядерным зарядом, летящих со скоростью до 4,8 км. в секунду на расстоянии до 400 км. Эффективность комплекса столь высока, что он способен заменить три системы предыдущего поколения С-300.
По своей эффективности "Триумф" более чем в два раза превосходит все существующие отечественные и иностранные системы ПВО, состоящие в настоящее время на вооружении. Комплекс С-400 способен поражать самолеты и крылатые ракеты на всех высотах их боевого применения. Например, С-400 может уничтожить крылатую ракету, летящую на высоте 10 м., а американский комплекс "Patriot" способен поразить крылатую ракету лишь на высоте от 60 м. С-400 использует штатные ракеты и ракеты повышенной дальности. Ракеты могут управляться с земли, но и имеют свою систему боевого наведения, наводясь на цель автоматически. Микродвигатели, установленные на ракетах комплекса, позволяют им совершать маневры на высотах около 35 км. при перегрузках более 20j, обеспечивая высокую эффективность при наведении на баллистические ракеты. Если С-300 позволял поражать цели с эффективностью в 95%-98%, то С-400 обеспечивает еще более высокую точность попадания. Достаточно сказать, что пока на Западе еще не разработали систему, которая превосходила бы комплекс С-300, а до уровня С-400 придется добираться еще многие годы. Поэтому небо над Москвой будет надежно прикрыто новейшими системами С-400, которые обеспечат защиту от авиаударов любой интенсивности, а также от пусков баллистических ракет.
Second Topol-M ICBM battalion to go on combat duty by year-end
22/ 08/ 2007
TEIKOVO (Ivanovo Region), August 22 (RIA Novosti) - A second missile battalion, equipped with advanced Topol-M (SS-27) road-mobile ICBMs, will be put on combat duty before the end of the year, Russia's Strategic Missile Forces command said Wednesday.
SMF commander Col. Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov said earlier the deployment of silo-based Topol-M systems in the Saratov Region and road-mobile systems in the Ivanovo Region (central Russia) would be completed in 2010.
As of December 2006, the Strategic Missile Forces operated 44 silo-based and three mobile missile systems.
The commander said the Topol-M system will be equipped with multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRV) in the next two or three years, adding the new system would help penetrate missile defenses more effectively.
[color=red]His statement came against the backdrop of growing tensions between Moscow and the West regarding plans by the United States to deploy elements of its global antiballistic missile defense system in Central Europe.[/color]
Gen. Solovtsov said the Strategic Missile Forces would factor in the new threats.
"If the U.S. proceeds with missile defense plans, despite serious opposition from people in Europe, the Strategic Missile Forces will manage to take adequate measures to counter threats to Russia," he said.
Land-based mobile strategic missile system Topol-M getting into position trategic missile division in the town of Teikovo, Ivanovo Region
Sergei Ivanov, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister, and Russian President Vladimir Putin (left to right) inspecting mobile Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile systems while on a visit to a division of the Strategic Missile Forces deployed in Teikovo, Ivanovo Region.
Bush reassures Russia over missile shield in Europe
21/ 05/ 2007
WASHINGTON, May 21 (RIA Novosti) - U.S. President George W. Bush said Monday the Pentagon's plans to deploy elements of its missile shield in Central Europe were not directed against Russia.
The U.S. announced plans in January to deploy interceptor missiles in Poland and a missile defense radar in the Czech Republic as part of its missile shield aimed at countering possible threats from "rogue states" such as Iran and North Korea.
Russian Far East naval exercises no threat to neighbors - Pacific Fleet
30/ 08/ 2007
VLADIVOSTOK, August 30 (RIA Novosti) - Naval exercises being held off Russia's Far East coast are defense-oriented and pose no threat to any neighboring Asian state, a Navy official said Thursday.
The weeklong exercises, which began Wednesday, are being conducted by the Primorye flotilla of the Pacific Fleet in the Russian sector of the Sea of Japan. The maneuvers involve over 20 surface ships, submarines and supply vessels, as well as about a dozen aircraft.
Captain 1st rank Roman Martov, the head of the Pacific Fleet press center, said these are scheduled combat exercises of diversified forces.
"These exercises will become the longest and most comprehensive maneuvers ever held in south Primorye waters," said Martov.
Besides missile and gunnery firing, and torpedo attacks, the exercises will feature missile interceptions by two large Anti-Submarine Warfare ships, the Admiral Panteleyev and Admiral Tributs [NATO codename Udaloy I].
By ROBERT BURNS and MATTHEW LEE, Associated Press Writers 14 minutes ago
MOSCOW - High-level talks Friday between the United States and Russia failed to bridge major differences over U.S. plans for a missile defense system in Europe and a range of strategic arms issues.
After a series of tense meetings that began with a blunt rebuff from Russian President Vladimir Putin, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates appeared to have been unable to turn around Moscow's opposition to missile defense.
Rice and Gates brought several new detailed proposals to the table meant to ease Russian concerns that the system would be aimed at Moscow, but the pair was unable to convince Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov or Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.
"We see two serious problems with these proposals," Lavrov told reporters at a four-way news conference following the talks.
He said the two sides still disagree about the nature of the missile threat to Europe and that the Bush administration refuses to freeze its deployment plans while the issue is discussed.
"There is no agreement on this," Lavrov said. He said that while the initial U.S. plan to place elements of the system in Poland and the Czech Republic were small, it could grow to become a threat to Russia's deterrent force. "There is a potential threat for us here."
Serdyukov agreed.
"The principal thing to which we did not agree today is the deployment of anti-missile elements which have an anti-Russian character and which are to be placed in Europe," he said.
Rice said the ideas that she and Gates presented are "conceptual at this point" and would be handed to experts to consider further. The two sides plan to meet again in Washington in about six months.
"I know that we don't always see eye-to-eye on every element of the solutions to these issues, nonetheless, I believe we will do this in a constructive spirit, that we will make progress during these talks as we continue to pursue cooperation," Rice said.
Gates said that one idea is to have Russian personnel stationed at each missile defense site to improve coordination and openness with Moscow.
Neither Lavrov nor Serdyukov appeared impressed with the suggestion.
The day got off to a rocky start with Putin warning Washington to back off European missile defense, which he appeared to mock, or risk harming relations with Moscow. He also threatened to pull out of a Cold War-era treaty limiting intermediate-range missiles unless it is expanded.
"We may decide someday to put missile defense systems on the moon, but before we get to that we may lose a chance for agreement because of you implementing your own plans," he told Rice and Gates in Russian, according to an Associated Press translation.
He also urged the Bush administration not to force its plans on countries in eastern Europe.
"We hope that in the process of such complex and multifaceted talks you will not be forcing forward your previous agreements with eastern European countries," the president said.
The Pentagon plans to install 10 missile interceptors in Poland, linked to a missile tracking radar in the Czech Republic. The Pentagon says the system will provide some protection in Europe and beyond for long-range missiles launched from Iran, but Russia believes the system is a step toward undermining the deterrent value of its nuclear arsenal.
Russia sees the U.S. missile defense plan, which Washington describes as a hedge against the threat of missile attack from Iran, as a worrisome step toward weakening Russian security. It has been a long-standing dispute, and Putin's remarks seemed to raise the level of tensions.
After keeping Rice and Gates waiting for 40 minutes, Putin began the session with a lengthy monologue in which he also said Russia might abandon its obligations under a 1987 missile treaty with the United States if it is not expanded to constrain other missile-armed countries.
Referring to the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty that was negotiated with the United States before the breakup of the Soviet Union, Putin said it must be applied to other countries, but did not mention any by name.
"If we are unable to obtain such a goal ... it will be difficult for us to keep within the framework of the treaty in a situation where other countries do develop such weapon systems, and among those are countries located in our near vicinity," he said.
The pact eliminated the deployment of Soviet and American ballistic missiles of intermediate range and was a landmark step in arms control just two years before the fall of the Berlin Wall and later the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Rice and Gates appeared surprised by Putin's suggestion, but officials said later it would be added to the agenda of the so-called "two plus two" group of Russian and U.S. foreign and defense ministers.
"We have an ambitious agenda of security issues that concern both of us, including, as you suggest, development of missile systems by others in the neighborhood — I would say in particular, Iran," Gates said.
Putin has also threatened to suspend Russian adherence to another arms control treaty, known as the Conventional Forces in Europe pact, which limits deployments of conventional military forces. Moscow wants it to be revised in ways that thus far have been unacceptable to U.S. and European signatories.
Shortly before the talks with Putin began, Lavrov strolled into the house's billiards room, where American reporters had gathered, for a cigarette break. He was asked whether he expected any breakthroughs in the talks.
"Breaks, definitely. Through or down, I don't know," he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shakes hands with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates as U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, center, looks on, at the presidential residence of Novo-Ogaryovo near Moscow, Friday, Oct. 12, 2007. In a tense start to talks on a range of thorny issues, President Vladimir Putin on Friday warned U.S. officials to back off a plan to install missile defenses in eastern Europe or risk harming relations with Moscow. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)
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