ARMENIA REJECTS U.S. MISSILE PLAN
PRESS TV, Iran
March 9 2007
Amidst rumors of U.S. interest to deploy a missile defense system
in Armenia, Armenian deputy foreign minister Arman Kirakosyan has
announced that he will not welcome the plan in his country.
"I would like to make an official statement that we have not received
any inquiries or proposals on that score from the U.S. or NATO
commanders," Kirakosyan said.
However, on 1st March, a senior Pentagon official announced interest
in approaching ex-Soviet republics like Georgia and Azerbaijan on
U.S.’s missile plan, with Armenia now added to the list.
Both Georgia and Azerbaijan have stated they are not aware of any
such plans nor have they been approached by the United States.
Russia is vehemently against any deployment of a U.S. missile defense
system, especially in any ex-Soviet states, stating that it will
jeopardize national security in the region.
Washington claims the system will counter any possible missile
threat from countries such as North Korea and Iran while Russian army
officials who do not believe them, advise the United States to look
at the maps to see how far Iran and Korea are to Europe.