Posted on 04/22/2006 3:55:45 PM PDT by lizol
Russia Delivers Missiles to Belarus
By YURAS KARMANAU, Associated Press Writer
Sat Apr 22, 12:52 AM ET
MINSK, Belarus - Russia began delivering advanced anti-aircraft missiles to Belarus on Friday, the Belarusian defense minister said.
Russia and Belarus signed an agreement last year on the delivery of the latest and most advanced version of Russia's S-300SP surface-to-air missile system, capable of shooting down targets some 90 miles away.
Belarusian Defense Minister Leonid Maltsev denied a report in the British defense journal Jane's Intelligence Digest that Belarus agreed to transfer the S-300SP missiles to Iran to defend against any possible U.S. or Israeli air strikes designed to derail what many in the West allege are its efforts to develop nuclear weapons.
Russia has already agreed to supply sophisticated Tor-M1 air defense missile systems to Iran.
"I have no intention of commenting on this nonsense," Maltsev said. "Under the contract for the delivery of the S-300s from Russia, Belarus does not have the right to transfer these systems anywhere else."
Iranian Commerce Minister Masud Mir-Kazemi, who headed a trade delegation that traveled to Minsk, also denied that Tehran wanted to acquire the Russian S-300 missiles.
"From the viewpoint of military technology, we are self-sufficient and there is no need for us to consider buying weapons abroad," he said.
The Iranian minister said he had not met with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, who on Friday was also in the Belarusian capital for talks with President Alexander Lukashenko.
The missile shipment is the latest move expanding military ties between the two ex-Soviet republics. In 1996, the two nations signed a union agreement providing for close political, economic and military ties and their armed forces have held frequent joint drills.
In February, Russian air force chief Gen. Vladimir Mikhailov said Russia planned to set up a permanent military air base in Belarus.
Russia has watched warily as former Soviet bloc countries bordering Belarus — Poland, Latvia Lithuania — have joined NATO.
Belarus, whose regime is increasingly isolated by the West, has developed close ties with Iran.
Using him as a middleman - Russia can export their weapons to rouge states, regardless of any sanctions.
One should keep in mind, that Belarus has become one of the main weapons seller in teh world.
Is really all that stuff they sell Belorussian? Don't think so.
Ping
Russia denies reports about transfer of S-300 missiles to Iran-(hubba hubba)
Posted by Flavius
On News/Activism 04/21/2006 9:12:30 PM PDT · 4 replies · 141+ views
ria novsti ^ | 17/ 04/ 2006 | na
MOSCOW, April 17 (RIA Novosti) - The Defense Ministry Monday denied reports in American media that S-300 missile systems being supplied to Belarus could be transferred to Iran. The ministry said four battalions of S-300 PMU2 Favorite missile systems would be supplied to Belarus this year under agreements on merging the two countries' air defenses. "Under the current agreement, missile systems cannot be supplied to third countries," the ministry said. .
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1619346/posts
Why would Belarus need missiles? They are hardly a strategic target.
International arms transistion point, I can understand.
Nice little organized crime thing going on there.
Nice little organized crime thing going on there.
----
Exactly. Just a front for Russia's best cash generation mill -- their weapons trade to ANYONE with a ruble.
Putin sure is pining for the old days.
Whats next? Nuclear missiles in cuba?
When you go to a Gas station do you ever see that brown shyte ring around the toilet. That is russia in todays civilized world. If we ever want to have a clean decent toilet that ring will have to be removed or washed away.
"Putin sure is pining for the old days.
Whats next? Nuclear missiles in cuba?"
Perhaps we shouldn't joke about that one!
Putin can pine all he want. Russia's really gone down the tubes these days, to the point where they are a threat because of their weakness, rather than because of their strength.
Belarus is just a middle-man, these are headed to Iran, no question. Which is a shame, because the S-300P is a heck of an anti-aircraft/cruise missile weapons system, in theory its as good and maybe even better than the Patriot.
"Nuclear missiles in cuba?" "
Venezuela?
Why would Belarus need missiles? They are hardly a strategic target. ==
What if Poland will attack them? Poland considers the half of Belorus territory as thier own stripped away by Stalin. SO Belorus needs to defend against western invasion. Accually during mullenia teh most direction of invasions on Belorus was western.
Sure, an average Pole doesn't dream everyday about anything but invading Belarus and regaining former territories. (sarcasm)
And seriously - it was just a perfect example, a carbon copy of Soviet "anti Western agression" propaganda.
Ivan, do you really believe in such a BS, or just want to mislead American readers (hoping, that some of them don't have enough knowlegde about the region)?
Sure, an average Pole doesn't dream everyday about anything but invading Belarus and regaining former territories. (sarcasm)==
May you think not about today. But if we recall recent history that we may find the stubbron fact. That Poland as soon as got her independece after WW1 quickly started eastern bound crusade fro eastern lands. Don't you forget it? I'm sur ethat Belorus is not.
Poland wasn't that "white and fluffy" as you may pretend and did lot of nasty things same for which she comdemn Russia today. Americans here don't know that. But we (you and I) know, don't we?:)
Isn't that Poland, that wants to incorporate Belarus???? Or maybe it's some other neigbouring country's politicians who talk about it??? ==
That incorporation you mention is going according Belorus own wishes. Anyways I beleive that won't be finished.
Belorus is our friends but let them live by thier own home.
Just compare it with Poland eastern military intervention of 1920th when Poland just occupied the half of belorussian lands.
I may understand that today Poland may not invade Belorus because she isn't strong for it. But if Poland has enough strength then surely polish troops already marched Minsk.
Poland proved it many times in her history that she is agressive toward East. The last polish occupation of Belorus was in 1921 till 1939. Not that far away from now, isn't it?
You may say that Poland got smarter lately times but who knows what if new Pilsudskii reappears in Poland in future.
So obviously Belorus needs to be prepared against any contigency. "If you want peace then be prepared to war" - the ancient roman wisdom. "Keep the powder dry" - is ancient russian wisdom.
"Venezuela?"
Good point. What would Bush say, "The Venezuelans are targeting cities with their nukes that we do not want to target." (?)
"Which is a shame, because the S-300P is a heck of an anti-aircraft/cruise missile weapons system, in theory its as good and maybe even better than the Patriot."
I am very sorry to hear that but also do find it interesting. Any more info or links?
Would you agree that if this is true, it is because when the Russians designed the S-300P, they started with a couple of actual Patriot missiles and a complete set of plans?
The benefit for Russia is to renew a Soviet buffer zone around the Rodina. They would like to have missiles and bases in every country possible between NATO countries and Russia, as they used to have. That way, if there is ever a conflict, the bulk of the bombing and deaths will occur in peripheral countries where the weapons are located. I don't think they need to use other countries as patsies to export weapons, they can send anything they want directly to Iran. Belarus used to be part of the strategic defense line for the USSR. They still have the bases there, although now they are merely apartments for ordinary people.
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