BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

27/06/2006

Belarus to Develop Military

Associated Press

MOSCOW - Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday vowed a military buildup in response to what he said was a threat from the West, and said the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons could not be ruled out.

Lukashenko said in comments broadcast on state television that, in his view, Belarus did not need strategic weapons on its territory.

"I don't think there will be a situation that would require the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons," he said during military exercises between Russian and Belarussian forces - the largest ever for the two countries.

However, he qualified his remarks by saying: "If a threat to security existed, there is no need to rule anything out."

Russia's Defense Ministry declined comment on Lukashenko's remarks.

In an apparent desire to downplay relations with Belarus, President Vladimir Putin declined an invitation to attend aviation exercises Saturday.

Source:

http://www.times.spb.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=18023

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