Ekho Moskvy radio, Russia
Feb 15 2009

Envoy to NATO stresses need for air defences beyond Russian borders

The announcement that joint Russian-Armenian air defences are to be
established is part of Russia’s plan to have a circular air defence
system beyond its national borders, the official representative of
Russia to NATO, Dmitriy Rogozin, told Ekho Moskvy radio on 13
February.

"Of course, this system should be linked up between different
states. Why should air defence extend beyond national borders? If a
state is under threat of attack from the air, then it is best to
intercept the targets some distance from its own borders," Rogozin
said. "I want to say that NATO does approximately the same thing. For
example, after the conflict in the South Caucasus in August last year,
the Americans mainly – and NATO as an organization supported it too –
set up air defences on Georgia’s territory by joint efforts," he said.

The presenter then quoted Rogozin as saying that the air defence
system could be used not only to prevent actions by a potential
aggressor, but also in the case of a vessel being seized by
terrorists.

For his part, president of the Academy of Geopolitical Problems Col
Gen Leonid Ivashov said: "The air defence system of Armenia, Belarus
and the Central Asian states provides information about the state of
the air situation in various regions. That’s the first thing. Second,
it means joint training of personnel, mainly in Russia; single
integrated systems – radio-technical and information systems, control
systems and of course means of carrying out strikes."

"Our S-300 and other systems are stationed in Armenia. This does not
threaten anyone, but this cooperation simply makes people who are
itching to resolve political problems by force be more careful," he
added.