BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

19/12/2008

MINSK, December 19 (Itar-Tass) -- The deployment of U.S. elements of the ABM system in the Czech Republic and Poland poses a threat for the security of Belarus, Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko believes. "We openly told the United States that the ABM systems, it is going to deploy in the Czech Republic and Poland, create a threat for our security both because they will be deployed close to our borders and because they will be directed against Russia, our ally," Lukashenko said in an interview with Belarussian journalists.

"Those missiles may be used not only for destroying missiles of other countries, but also for hitting targets, using nuclear warheads," Lukashenko stressed.

According to his information, Belarus is not planning any retaliatory measures so far, "first, because no ABM systems are deployed in those countries so far, and no one knows whether they will be deployed there at all, and, second, because such measures will involve enormous expenditures, while we do not have so much money at the moment." If a real threat emerges for Belarus, however, "we shall find the needed money," he added. "We shall do our best for ensuring our security, but at present there is no direct threat."

Lukashenko supports the Russian leaders, who voiced their intention to deploy Iskander weapon systems in the Kaliningrad Region in response to the U.S. actions.

According to Lukashenko, "the factor of Europe" is a serious deterring factor hampering the unleashing of another arms race. "Russia cannot but take into consideration the factor of Europe. A weapon system is to be deployed in the central part of Western Europe, and the range of missiles' action is 280 kilometres today. It may be fitted with heavy missiles, with a 500-kilometres range of action, or with cruise missile, whose range of action is 1,000 kilometres. Those missiles may reach any part of Europe," Lukashenko said. According to Lukashenko, Europe is also beginning to feel a threat to its security and is going to take action.

Source:

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=13400303&PageNum=0

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