MOSCOW, November 23. Russia sees Washington’s readiness to discuss the claims on its non-compliance with the Treaty on the elimination of intermediate and shorter-range missiles (the INF Treaty). This was stated by Deputy Minister of foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Ryabkov.
See also
© EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS
The U.S. Congress passed a bill allowing in fact to violate the INF Treaty
“This theme came up repeatedly in our dialogue with the US on your and, including, political level. This theme is present – said Ryabkov. – To say that there is some progress, it would be an exaggeration”.
“We do not see readiness of our American colleagues to seriously consider and discuss the claims made by us in compliance with the requirements of the Washington Treaty,” he said.
Three blocks of questions
“There are three sets of issues and problems. One of them is the long-standing unresolved situation related to the use of the US so-called missile-target, that is, ballistic missiles of a range prohibited by the Treaty, when it launches in the interests of testing the missile defense system, said the Deputy Minister. Requirements of the contract are such that, by and large, no matter what purposes are carried out such launches to test missile defense system or any other. The missile firing on the range from 500 to 5.5 thousand km are prohibited. Launches of such missiles violate the INF Treaty”.
See also
© Sergey Fadeichev/TASS
Lavrov: Russia does not intend to break the Treaty on intermediate-range and shorter-range
“The second block. In the coming weeks will be the “inauguration” of an object near the deveselu air base in Romania, where a positional area of the missile systems interceptor missile defense in the European segment of global missile defenses, he continued. – It is well known that the installed equipment there is, in fact, similar to launchers on Board American ships with anti-missile capabilities, the system “aegis” on the management of missile fire. Launcher called the MK-41, have a dual purpose”.
Of data containers, said Ryabkov, can be launched as a missile – missiles to intercept ballistic targets and cruise missiles – impact means to destroy ground, surface targets. “The INF Treaty of cruise missiles of sea basing is not prohibited, but the same contract is prohibited cruise missiles land-based, with a range from 500 to 5.5 thousand km, said the Deputy head of the Russian foreign Ministry. – Installing the MK-41 on land in Romania – United States directly violate the requirements of the INF, because it turns out that these launchers can launch cruise missiles impact”.
“The third area for which we have claims to the United States, is the drones. If you carefully read the text of the Treaty, it is easy to verify that pilotless fall under the prohibition imposed by this document, – he noted. – Stress: shock drones, and not those used for reconnaissance, for surveillance, communications, coordination of contingents on the ground. We are talking about those drones that can strike at ground targets”.
Moscow sees that in recent years the use of such drones in the operations of the U.S. armed forces that has gathered enormous momentum. “There is total disregard of the requirements of the Washington Treaty,” he said.
Respond to claims of Russia no
“A substantive answer, in fact our complaints, – noted the diplomat. – Are such quasilegislative, untrue and not supported by the texture of arguments that, say, Russia is seeking a pretext to accuse the U.S. in violation of the INF Treaty”.
“It’s not an excuse, it’s a real concern. But there is no dialogue, we put forward the claim that we are violating the document, – continued the interlocutor of the Agency. – No movement happens, so in this area the situation is quite complicated”.
“I don’t think that in the coming months we will achieve some changes for the better, although we will continue to aggressively put in front of American colleagues these questions, – he stressed. – From the dialogue on RIAC and its future, we are not leaving”.
The INF Treaty was signed on 8 December 1987 in Washington. Entered into force on 1 June 1988. Under the contract fall deployed and non-deployed missiles are smaller (500 to 1000 km) and medium range (1000 to 5500 km) land-based.
See also
© Edward Pesov /Photo Chronicle/
The Treaty on the elimination of intermediate-range and shorter-range nuclear forces (INF). Dossier
