BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

14/12/2007

Belarus to back Russia on U.S. missile shield deployment

MINSK, December 14 (RIA Novosti) - Belarus is ready to back Russia regarding the deployment of a U.S. missile shield in Central Europe, President Alexander Lukashenko said Friday.

"Belarus is ready to play its role in the issue of the proposed deployment in Europe of elements of a U.S. missile defense system," Lukashenko said while opening a session of the Russia-Belarus Union State Supreme State Council.

The U.S. plans to deploy a radar in the Czech Republic and a missile defense base in Poland in order to counter missile strikes from what it labels "rogue states." Russia has said the move would threaten its national security, and has offered Washington the use of its radars in south Russia and Azerbaijan as an alternative.

Lukashenko also promised to closely coordinate his actions with Russia on the adaptation of a major arms reduction treaty in Europe, which Russia imposed a moratorium on December 12.

The law to freeze Russia's participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty was unanimously approved by parliament and signed on November 30 by President Vladimir Putin. Russia's unilateral moratorium came into force immediately after midnight on Wednesday.

NATO said in a statement Wednesday that it regretted Russia's decision and urged Moscow to reverse it.

Moscow considers the original CFE treaty, signed in December 1990 by 16 NATO countries and six Warsaw Pact members, to be discriminatory and outdated since it does not reflect the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, the breakup of the Soviet Union, or recent NATO expansion.

Lukashenko confirmed his state's adherence to cooperation with Russia. "Belarus continues to regard Russia as its main strategic partner," he said, adding that "steady growth in trade turnover that could on this year's result reach a record level exceeding $23 billion" is a graphic example of this.

Lukashenko said Belarus is also one of Russia's main trade and economic partners.

A joint statement adopted after the talks between the Russian and Belarusian presidents, Vladimir Putin and Lukashenko, said the two countries would coordinate their action on joining the World Trade Organization, and policies regarding tariffs and expanding reciprocal trade.

"The sides spoke for the soonest establishment of a real customs union, expanding interregional ties, strengthening industrial cooperation and creating effective joint production, including as part of implementation of the union state's cooperation programs," the statement said.

Source:

http://en.rian.ru/world/20071214/92556616.html