BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

14/11/2007

Russia could counter US with missiles in Belarus: general

FOCUS News Agency

Moscow. Russia could counter a planned US anti-missile defence system in central Europe by deploying missiles in neighbouring ally Belarus, a senior Russian general said Wednesday cited by AFP.

"Why not, given the appropriate conditions and appropriate position of Belarus?" General Vladimir Zaritsky, the head of Russia's missile and artillery forces, was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

"Any action must have a counter-action, including with the US anti-missile elements in the Czech Republic and Poland," he said.

Belarus, a close ally of Russia which borders Poland, said earlier Wednesday that it was purchasing Russia's Iskander-E conventional missile system by 2020, which is designed to destroy air defences, but has a range of just 280 kilometres (174 miles).

Source:

http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n127068