BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

14/12/2007

Belarus behind Russia over US missile shield

Belarus has given its backing to Russia over US plans for a missile defence shield in eastern Europe.

During talks in Minsk, President Alexander Lukashenko told his Russian counterpart that Belarus was ready to "play its role", but he did not specify what that would involve.

The two neighbours also patched up a row over gas supplies, with Moscow saying there would only be a modest rise in the price of gas it sells to Belarus.

The United States is planning to site interceptor missiles and a radar station in Poland and the Czech Republic.

It says the shield is needed to protect the US and Europe from possible rocket attacks by "rogue states" such as Iran and North Korea.

But Moscow says the shield threatens its security and it may have to station tactical missiles in Belarus in response.

Source:

http://www.euronews.net/index.php?article=459550&lng=1&option=1