Moscow anxious on Turkey’s shield role

Russian envoy voices unease on deployment of some elements of the U.S.-lead project of an anti-missile defense network in Europe ahead of his talks with Turkish leaders on the issue.

“Having missile defense elements in someone’s territory makes a country into a target. That’s why you have to think very well before you make the decision. Russia thinks a lot on this issue,” Dmitry Rogozin, Russia’s Ambassador to NATO and Russian President Medvedev’s special envoy on NATO missile defense system told a group of journalists on Thursday. Remarks of Russian envoy came up ahead of his talks in Ankara with President Abdullah Gül, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defense on the missile defense project. Rogozin arrived Ankara following his meetings with the U.S. administration and the Pentagon. He stressed that they “still had the same number of questions” on the missile defense project after his visit to military base Colorado Springs where the U.S. century missile defense center is located. It’s the first time that Russians were allowed there. “So that’s why I’d like to hear the opinions of Turkish leadership,” he added. Russian envoy openly voiced his country’s concerns especially on deployment of the U.S ships in the Black Sea region, interceptors in Poland, early warning and missile defense radar in Turkey.

NATO, the U.S. and Ankara are still carrying out talks on stationing an early warning and missile defense radar in Turkey. Rogozin described significance of Turkey’s upcoming decision on the project, which would have crucial impact on Russia’s interests. “Turkey will have a direct influence on the decision to deploy U.S. radar here which then will become a part of overall U.S. system. And also, since Turkey has access to Mediterranean and Black Seas, it will have a direct influence on the decision to deploy U.S. missile defense ships, cruises in these seas,” he said.

“We don’t want new weapons in Black Sea”

Briefing on the recent plans on systems which could be deployed in Turkey, Russian envoy said missile defense radar could be stationed in southeast of Turkey and would be able to see a 7000 km of land to the east and south of Turkey. “Interceptors which will be deployed on the cruisers by 2018-2020, will have a distance of about 2500 km and these cruises will be deployed with senses which have provided additional guidance to missiles for the intercept. American friends told us that they plan no stationary missile interceptors deployed in Turkey.”

However, he drew attention to the ships equipped with missile defenses which would be able to come to Turkish ports. “Naturally even if they stay away 5 km away from coast line, they will have a distance of 2500 km long range and it would be same as deploying on the land,” he said. “We are against militarization of Black Sea region and don’t want new weapons here, don’t want players to play on this ground if they are not a part of this region,” Rogozin stated. He underlined that Russia was against the U.S missile defense ships being stationed in the Black Sea and in general in Black Sea region. “I will be disappointed if there will be foreign ships in Black Sea which have nothing to do in the region. Black Sea always has been a sea of friendship and cooperating and that’s the way it should stay.” Russia would not like to have anything that would increase the tension in the region, Russian diplomat noted.

President Gül met with the Russian envoy on late Thursday; however the meeting did not mentioned in the President’s official program bulletin.


/Hurriyet Daily News/