BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

28/08/2007

Russia's Military Facilities in Belarus to Hinder Relations with U.S.

Stationing Russia's military facilities in Belarus, including nuclear weapons, would be counterproductive for Russia-U.S. relations, U.S. Senator Richard Lugar made clear on Tuesday. Mr Lugar is a leading disarmament advocate, who is in Moscow now.

Lugar said he still couldn't imagine such development despite tense attitude of Russia's leadership resulted from the U.S. plans to station missile defense components in Europe. The previous agreement was to withdraw all nuclear weapons from Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, the senator reminded.

Russia could stations some military facilities in Belarus, up to the nuclear weapons, certain media reported with reference to the RF Ambassador to Belarus Alexander Surikov.

It would be astonishing and counterproductive for Russia-U.S. relations, Mr Lugar commented on the statement of the ambassador.

Source:

http://www.kommersant.com/p-11286/Lugar_nuclear_Belarus/

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