Posted on 02/02/2005 6:29:49 AM PST by maui_hawaii
AN investigation has been launched into allegations Ukraine sold nuclear-capable cruise missiles to Iran and China in violation of international treaties.
The allegations were made in a letter by politician Hrihory Omelchenko and addressed to President Viktor Yushchenko, who took office last week.
Mr Yushchenko, who takes over from Leonid Kuchma, has promised to investigate corruption and misdeeds that allegedly flourished during his predecessor’s ten years as president.
Mr Kuchma allegedly sanctioned the sale of sophisticated radar systems to Iraq in 2002, contravening UN sanctions.
In the letter, Mr Omelchenko said an investigation launched last summer "proved that some 20 air-launched Kh-55 and Kh-55M cruise missiles with nuclear capability were exported to third countries" in contravention of international treaties.
"Six missiles destined for Russia ended up in Iran . . . six missiles destined for Russia ended up in China" the letter said. It said the exports occurred during 1999 to 2001.
Vyacheslav Astapov, a spokesman for Ukraine’s Prosecutor-General, said the office began a probe into the alleged sales last summer and "this year we received new information".
Mr Astapov also said a top-ranking Iranian diplomat in Ukraine met with Prosecutor-General Svyatoslav Piskun.
Iranian diplomats in Kiev were not available for comment.
Mr Omelchenko also claimed that businessmen from several enterprises - including state-run weapons exporter Ukrspetseksport - in the US, Cyprus and Iran shared hefty profits from several illicit defence deals.
US diplomats in Kiev were "aware of the reports" on illicit sales and took them "very seriously," a US embassy spokesman said.
As long as CIS nations are still run by cliques of ex-Communists they will continue to do things that undermine US security.
The Cold War isnt really over, it has simply shifted into low gear.
We're going to wake up one day and some city is going to be a smoking ruin. I doubt we know half the story of what's going on in Iran.
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