A RADAR IN THE FACE
by Albert Yeremjan, Demis Polandov
Translated by A. Ignatkin
Source: Gazeta, March 15, 2007, pp. 1, 3
Agency WPS
What the Papers Say Part B (Russia)
March 15, 2007 Thursday
How long before Georgia is hosting American missile defense radars?;
Ukrainian-American consultations on deployment of US missile defense
system elements in the Czech Republic and Poland took place at the
Ukrainian Defense Ministry in Kiev yesterday. America was represented
by Lieutenant-General Henry Obering, director of the US Missile
Defense Agency.
The lower house of the Czech parliament killed the draft law that would
have arranged a nationwide referendum on the issue of deployment of a
radar of the American missile defense system on the territory of the
republic. It is common knowledge that Mirek Topolanek’s government
is all for the deployment. General public is not convinced that
the American radar is what the Czech Republic really needs, but it
doesn’t matter anymore. There will be no referendum on the issue,
and so the matter is all but settled.
Ukrainian-American consultations on deployment of US missile defense
system elements in the Czech Republic and Poland took place at the
Ukrainian Defense Ministry in Kiev yesterday. America was represented
by Lieutenant-General Henry Obering, director of the US Missile
Defense Agency.
Obering is well known in Russia – best of all for his recent remark
to the effect that the Pentagon would like to have a radar in the
Caucasus. According to Obering, this additional radar would be quite
useful but not exactly crucial for the future missile defense system.
It would only relay information to a more powerful radar, to be built
in the Czech Republic.
Obering all but took it back yesterday. He said that the United
States had never discussed establishment of elements of the missile
defense with any country but the Czech Republic and Poland. Obering
then proceeded to deny reports that some elements of the system were
to be installed in the Caucasus.
Obering was late. President Eduard Kokoity of South Ossetia exposed
"the Pentagon’s plot" yesterday in the morning. "Preparations for
installing a powerful military radar are under way in the Kazbeg
district of Georgia, not far from Russia’s borders," Kokoity said. He
added that another radar would be built on the territory of Georgia
in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone.
Konstantin Gabashvili, chairman of the Georgian parliament’s foreign
relations committee, described Kokoity’s statements as "nonsense."
Gabashvili said that had this decision been made, he would have
been certainly informed of it. Senior Deputy Defense Minister
Levan Nikoleishvili denied consultations with the Americans over
installation of US radars in Georgia. "Georgia isn’t the only country
in the Caucasus, is it?" he said.
But Nikoleishvili isn’t being entirely honest, is he? Out of three
countries in the southern part of the Caucasus, Russia has military
contingents in two. It has a military base in the Armenian city
of Gyumri. It has a radar in Gabala, Azerbaijan, and official Baku
doesn’t demand that it should be closed down. Deployment of American
missile defense elements alongside Russian military facilities is
unlikely. That leaves Georgia – and Russian military bases are to be
pulled out of Georgia by late 2008.
Commenting on South Ossetian president’s statements is essentially
a waste of time. When the matter concerns Georgia, he isn’t exactly
an impartial observer. On the other hand, neither do contradictory
statements from the Pentagon inspire trust. Add here the voting in
the parliament of Georgia the day before yesterday – it voted in
favor of joining NATO – and all this makes appearance of US radars
near the Russian borders a distinct possibility.
Moreover, Obering’s remarks on the possibility of missile defense
elements in the Caucasus are more than just speculation. It would be
logical. If a missile defense system is to be established against
Iranian missiles, then the Czech Republic and Poland alone won’t
suffice. Something will have to be installed in Ukraine and Georgia
as well. Even if no preparations for it are under way in Georgia at
this point, then their beginning is only a matter of time.