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Russia justifies deploying S-300 missile systems in Abkhazia
MOSCOW, August 13 (RIA Novosti)
The deployment of S-300 air defense systems in Abkhazia is not a
violation of Russia's international obligations, the Russian Foreign
Ministry said on Friday.
"As to the S-300, this air defense system is an integral part of
military equipment deployed at our military base in Abkhazia, which is
intended solely for defensive purposes," ministry spokesman Andrey
Nesterenko said.
The advanced version of the S-300 system, the S-300PMU1 has a range of
more than 150 kilometers (more than 100 miles) and can intercept
missiles and aircraft at a wide range of altitudes, making it
effective in warding off air and missile strikes.
"Its deployment cannot destabilize the situation in the region and
does not violate Russia's international obligations," Nesterenko said.
Russian Air Force head Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said on Wednesday
S-300 systems had been placed in Abkhazia to protect the airspace of
Abkhazia and the other former Georgian republic of South Ossetia. He
did not say how many S-300s had been deployed.
Nesterenko reiterated on Friday that the military cooperation between
Russia and the two former Georgia republics was transparent and based
on bilateral agreements to counter potential threats to their security
and ensure stability in the region.
"The urgency of this cooperation is obvious in light of the tragic
events of August 2008 and
Tbilisi's continuing efforts to take revenge [on the two republics],"
the official said.
Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia two days after the brief
conflict with Georgia, which began when Georgian forces attacked South
Ossetia in an attempt to bring it back under central control.
Russia signed agreements with South Ossetia and Abkhazia earlier this
year on establishing permanent military bases in the republics.
The bases are located in Gudauta, on Abkhazia's Black Sea coast, and
in South Ossetia's capital, Tskhinvali. Each base hosts up to 1,700
servicemen, T-62 tanks, light armored vehicles, air defense systems
and a variety of aircraft.
On Wednesday, the Georgian Foreign Ministry described Russia's actions
as "extremely dangerous and provocative," saying it threatened "not
only the Black Sea region, but European security as a whole."
Washington later downplayed the Russian move by saying that the move
was not a new development as Moscow had been deploying S-300 missiles
in Abkhazia for the past two years.
A Kremlin source confirmed on Friday that the S-300 systems were
deployed in Abkhazia two years ago and Russia informed its foreign
partners about the deployment.
"We merely changed the location of their deployment," the source said.
From: A. Papazian
MOSCOW, August 13 (RIA Novosti)
The deployment of S-300 air defense systems in Abkhazia is not a
violation of Russia's international obligations, the Russian Foreign
Ministry said on Friday.
"As to the S-300, this air defense system is an integral part of
military equipment deployed at our military base in Abkhazia, which is
intended solely for defensive purposes," ministry spokesman Andrey
Nesterenko said.
The advanced version of the S-300 system, the S-300PMU1 has a range of
more than 150 kilometers (more than 100 miles) and can intercept
missiles and aircraft at a wide range of altitudes, making it
effective in warding off air and missile strikes.
"Its deployment cannot destabilize the situation in the region and
does not violate Russia's international obligations," Nesterenko said.
Russian Air Force head Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said on Wednesday
S-300 systems had been placed in Abkhazia to protect the airspace of
Abkhazia and the other former Georgian republic of South Ossetia. He
did not say how many S-300s had been deployed.
Nesterenko reiterated on Friday that the military cooperation between
Russia and the two former Georgia republics was transparent and based
on bilateral agreements to counter potential threats to their security
and ensure stability in the region.
"The urgency of this cooperation is obvious in light of the tragic
events of August 2008 and
Tbilisi's continuing efforts to take revenge [on the two republics],"
the official said.
Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia two days after the brief
conflict with Georgia, which began when Georgian forces attacked South
Ossetia in an attempt to bring it back under central control.
Russia signed agreements with South Ossetia and Abkhazia earlier this
year on establishing permanent military bases in the republics.
The bases are located in Gudauta, on Abkhazia's Black Sea coast, and
in South Ossetia's capital, Tskhinvali. Each base hosts up to 1,700
servicemen, T-62 tanks, light armored vehicles, air defense systems
and a variety of aircraft.
On Wednesday, the Georgian Foreign Ministry described Russia's actions
as "extremely dangerous and provocative," saying it threatened "not
only the Black Sea region, but European security as a whole."
Washington later downplayed the Russian move by saying that the move
was not a new development as Moscow had been deploying S-300 missiles
in Abkhazia for the past two years.
A Kremlin source confirmed on Friday that the S-300 systems were
deployed in Abkhazia two years ago and Russia informed its foreign
partners about the deployment.
"We merely changed the location of their deployment," the source said.
From: A. Papazian