Turning up the heat on Poland, where it wants to deploy ten interceptor missile silos, the US hinted to Warsaw that if the missile deployment talks fall through, it could redirect its attention to neighbouring Lithuania. In exchange for letting the Pentagon deploy the missiles, the new Polish government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk wants the Americans to line up 20 billion dollars (473.568 billion roubles. 12.91 billion euros. 10.2 billion UK pounds) to modernise its armed forces. Washington said it would give 20 million (473.568 million roubles. 12.91 million euros. 10.2 million UK pounds), and the drawn-out talks stalled. Shortly after, the Americans said that they would ask the Lithuanians to host the missiles. According to various reports, the Pentagon has discussed the possibility with Vilnius for about a month now. General Viktor Yesin, the former chief of Russian missile forces, believes that if the talks are a success, it shall finally become clear to everyone that Russia is the real target of the missile defence system Washington is going to deploy in Europe.
“If American interceptor missiles appear in Lithuania, no one shall believe that the Americans need them to intercept imaginary Iranian missiles. Everyone who understands anything in missile defence knows that US interceptor missiles in Lithuania are meant to neutralise the Russian nuclear deterrent”, General Yesin said.
Meanwhile, Lithuanians are taking their time, seeing the American overture simply as an attempt to put additional pressure on the recalcitrant Poles. One thing is clear, though, President George W. Bush, whose second and final term expires next January, wants to hand over to his successor an iron-clad agreement on the so-called ABM Third Position Area in Europe. Defence experts see Lithuania as an ideal place for US interceptor missiles. Indeed, Lithuania is 500 kilometres (310 miles) closer to Russia and the Americans will have a perfect chance to intercept Russian ICBMs whilst they are still in the launch stage…
21 June 2008
Voice of Russia World Service
http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=28675&cid=58&p=21.06.2008 (in English)
