Russia demands permanent presence at US missile sites (Roundup)

Apr 8, 2008, 15:52 GMT

Moscow - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned Tuesday that states hosting parts of a US missile defence shield risked facing a military response if Moscow's security concerns are not met.

Lavrov demanded that the Russian military be allowed a 'permanent presence' at a planned US missile interceptor base in Poland and a radar site in the Czech Republic, threatening that Russia would otherwise consider 'measures of military-technical character'.

'It is crucial for us that we should be able to see second-by- second where that radar is looking, and what is happening at the missile interceptor base,' Lavrov was quoted as saying in an interview with Ekho Moskvy radio station.

Tuesday's threat put paid to the United States and its partners hopes of a shift in Russia's nay-say attitude after a big US push for compromise at last week's NATO summit and in one-on-one talks bwteeen US President George Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Lavrov accused the United States of backtracking on the concession offered as part of a package to assuage Moscow's security concerns.

'In the (US) proposals we received ... there is no mention of a permanent presence. It only says officers can be posted to the Russian embassies in Poland and the Czech Republic ... on the basis of reciprocity,' Lavrov was quoted on the station as saying.

His comments came as Russian-Polish talks on missile defence ended inconclusively in Moscow Tuesday, with each side admitting 'to a big distance' between them.

'A long road still lies ahead' summed up Russia's deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak after meeting with his Polish counterpart Witold Waszczykowski, Interfax news agency reported.

Both sides said they stood furthest apart over Moscow's demands that Poland allow for the Russian military presence if Washington is allowed to deploy the shield.

Polish negotiator Waszczykowski said earlier that Poland was ready to discuss Russian access to the US base, but ruled out allowing Moscow a permanent presence in Poland.

Analysts said Tuesday that despite a thaw in Moscow's relations with its two former Soviet neighbours, it is unlikely these states would agree to allow for Russian military presence on their soil.

While the United States says a missile defence system in Eastern Europe is needed to protect against 'rogue states' such as Iran, Russia considers it a threat to its security and nuclear deterrent.