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RUSSIA OPPOSED TO PATRIOT MISSILES DEPLOYMENT AT TURKISH-SYRIAN BORDER
November 22, 2012 - 18:33 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia's Foreign Ministry warned Thursday, Nov 22,
against Turkey's intention to deploy Patriot missiles on its border
with Syria, according to RIA Novosti.
"Militarization of the Turkish-Syrian border is an alarming signal,"
said ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich. "Our advice to our
Turkish colleagues is to use their influence on the Syrian opposition
to draw them closer to dialogue, instead of flexing muscles and
turning the situation into a dangerous route."
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Wednesday that
Turkey's request to deploy the missiles would be considered soon.
Ankara says the missile system is necessary to protect its border
with conflict-torn Syria.
Individual NATO countries that have available Patriot systems -
Germany, the Netherlands and the United States - are to decide on
their own if they will provide them for deployment in Turkey.
Turkey has opened fire several times across its border with Syria in
retaliation for Syrian shelling, which killed five Turkish civilians
in October.
U.S. Patriot surface-to-air missiles were deployed to Turkey in 1991
and 2003, during the two Gulf Wars.
Lukashevich also denied Russian media reports saying that Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov was planning to meet on November 26 with the
Syrian opposition.
Since its start in March 2011, the Syrian conflict has claimed tens of
thousands of lives, according to various Syrian opposition groups. The
UN puts the death toll at least 30,000 people.
November 22, 2012 - 18:33 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia's Foreign Ministry warned Thursday, Nov 22,
against Turkey's intention to deploy Patriot missiles on its border
with Syria, according to RIA Novosti.
"Militarization of the Turkish-Syrian border is an alarming signal,"
said ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich. "Our advice to our
Turkish colleagues is to use their influence on the Syrian opposition
to draw them closer to dialogue, instead of flexing muscles and
turning the situation into a dangerous route."
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Wednesday that
Turkey's request to deploy the missiles would be considered soon.
Ankara says the missile system is necessary to protect its border
with conflict-torn Syria.
Individual NATO countries that have available Patriot systems -
Germany, the Netherlands and the United States - are to decide on
their own if they will provide them for deployment in Turkey.
Turkey has opened fire several times across its border with Syria in
retaliation for Syrian shelling, which killed five Turkish civilians
in October.
U.S. Patriot surface-to-air missiles were deployed to Turkey in 1991
and 2003, during the two Gulf Wars.
Lukashevich also denied Russian media reports saying that Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov was planning to meet on November 26 with the
Syrian opposition.
Since its start in March 2011, the Syrian conflict has claimed tens of
thousands of lives, according to various Syrian opposition groups. The
UN puts the death toll at least 30,000 people.