lennart
15-04-04, 23:10
Moscow believes NATO may deploy nuclear weapons in Baltic republics
19:16 2004-04-13
The General Staff of Russia's Armed Forces does not rule out that NATO may deploy nuclear weapons in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, the former Soviet republics and now the new NATO nations, Yury Baluyevsky, First Deputy Chief of General Staff, said at a press conference in Moscow on Tuesday.
However, such issues cannot be regarded as internal affairs of a Baltic state in question or the United States. "The international community's opinions must not be disregarded," emphasized Gen. Baluyevsky.
Gen. Baluyevsky said Moscow believed the emergence of new military alliances made no sense.
"If we follow the path of creating new military blocs, it will lead us back to the time of opposition between the Soviet Union and later between Russia and NATO, the competition which required a lot of effort and huge funds," said Gen. Baluyevsky.
Speaking about NATO's possibilities, he said that any organization, which involves more than 6 members, was actually uncontrollable.
In comments on media reports that Russia may join the alliance with time, the general said Moscow had not even discussed that question.
It is not that important whether Russia will join NATO or not. Russia does not need to join any coalitions whatsoever to protect itself, according to Gen. Baluyevsky.
However, Moscow is interested in political, economic and cultural cooperation with NATO nations, he noted.
Russia is, for example, creating a peacekeeping unit for joint actions with NATO.
"Russia is raising a brigade, but my opinion is that creating a unit specially for peacekeeping missions is a costly undertaking," said Gen. Baluyevsky.
When speaking about latest developments in Iraq, Gen. Baluyevsky said Russia's General Staff had information on the coalition forces' real toll, but did not elaborate further, saying he did not want to enjoy a small triumph over others' misfortunes. (wat een interessant gebruik van woorden)
According to General Baluyevsky, the General Staff believes the Iraqi conflict will not end any time soon.
Iraq's authorities have been somewhat perplexed lately, according to him.
"Some units of Iraq's Armed Forces have declined to help the coalition forces in crushing the uprising, while the Shiites, whose support was important for the coalition, are involved in the uprising," recalled the general.
The general emphasized that the US-led coalition had won an easy victory over venal servicemen, rather than over the Iraqi people.
(...)
http://newsfromrussia.com/main/2004/04/13/53393.html
Er staat verder ook nog wat info in over een aanslag door de russische geheime dienst in Qatar en over de situatie in Moldavie.
19:16 2004-04-13
The General Staff of Russia's Armed Forces does not rule out that NATO may deploy nuclear weapons in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, the former Soviet republics and now the new NATO nations, Yury Baluyevsky, First Deputy Chief of General Staff, said at a press conference in Moscow on Tuesday.
However, such issues cannot be regarded as internal affairs of a Baltic state in question or the United States. "The international community's opinions must not be disregarded," emphasized Gen. Baluyevsky.
Gen. Baluyevsky said Moscow believed the emergence of new military alliances made no sense.
"If we follow the path of creating new military blocs, it will lead us back to the time of opposition between the Soviet Union and later between Russia and NATO, the competition which required a lot of effort and huge funds," said Gen. Baluyevsky.
Speaking about NATO's possibilities, he said that any organization, which involves more than 6 members, was actually uncontrollable.
In comments on media reports that Russia may join the alliance with time, the general said Moscow had not even discussed that question.
It is not that important whether Russia will join NATO or not. Russia does not need to join any coalitions whatsoever to protect itself, according to Gen. Baluyevsky.
However, Moscow is interested in political, economic and cultural cooperation with NATO nations, he noted.
Russia is, for example, creating a peacekeeping unit for joint actions with NATO.
"Russia is raising a brigade, but my opinion is that creating a unit specially for peacekeeping missions is a costly undertaking," said Gen. Baluyevsky.
When speaking about latest developments in Iraq, Gen. Baluyevsky said Russia's General Staff had information on the coalition forces' real toll, but did not elaborate further, saying he did not want to enjoy a small triumph over others' misfortunes. (wat een interessant gebruik van woorden)
According to General Baluyevsky, the General Staff believes the Iraqi conflict will not end any time soon.
Iraq's authorities have been somewhat perplexed lately, according to him.
"Some units of Iraq's Armed Forces have declined to help the coalition forces in crushing the uprising, while the Shiites, whose support was important for the coalition, are involved in the uprising," recalled the general.
The general emphasized that the US-led coalition had won an easy victory over venal servicemen, rather than over the Iraqi people.
(...)
http://newsfromrussia.com/main/2004/04/13/53393.html
Er staat verder ook nog wat info in over een aanslag door de russische geheime dienst in Qatar en over de situatie in Moldavie.