RUSSIA WARNS TO REACT TO U.S. MISSILE SHIELD IN CZECHIA WITH MILITARY MEANS

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.07.2008

Russia warns to retaliate by military means after a deal with the Czech
Republic brought the US missile defense system in Europe a step closer.

The threat followed quickly on from the announcement that Condoleezza
Rice signed a formal agreement with the Czech Republic to host the
radar for the controversial project.

Moscow argues that the missile shield would severely undermine the
balance of European security and regards the proposed missile shield
based in two former Communist countries as a hostile move.

"We will be forced to react not with diplomatic, but with
military-technical methods," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a
statement. "There is no doubt that the approachment of elements of
the U.S. strategic arsenal to the Russian territory could be used to
weaken the potential of our deterrent."

The ministry did not detail what its response might entail, The
Times reports.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed a deal Tuesday with
her Czech counterpart, Karel Schwarzenberg, to place radar units for
the system inside the borders of the Czech Republic.

The United States is also seeking a deal with Warsaw to place
interceptor missiles in Poland as part of the system.