MOSCOW, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles
could be aimed at the U.S. missile defense shield in Europe, the commander of
Russia's Strategic Missile Forces said Wednesday.
"I cannot rule out that, in case the top military-political leadership
makes such a decision," Col. Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov was quoted by the Interfax
news agency as saying.
The missile defense facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic and other
similar facilities in the future could "be designated as targets for our ICBMs,"
said Solovtsov.
Russia has to take appropriate measures to keep the country's nuclear
deterrence from being devalued under any circumstances, he said.
"These 10 interceptor missiles cannot significantly devalue Russia's attack
potential, although this will certainly make some negative effect on it. But the
point is that the United States doesn't want to take on any legal obligations
but is only asserting verbally: we aren't threatening you," Solovtsov was quoted
as saying.
The senior Russian general also said that another four missiles, including
a RS-24 ICBM, will be test-launched by the end of this year.
Three launches have been made so far this year, one in June and two in
August. "All the launches were successful," he said.
Washington proposed last year to establish an anti-ballitstic missile
shield in Central Europe, including interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar
station in the Czech Republic.
Moscow has consistently expressed its opposition to the U.S. missile shield
in Europe, saying it threatens its national security. However, Washington says
the shield is designed to thwart missile attacks by what it calls "rogue
states."
The United States and the Czech Republic signed a bilateral treaty in July
allowing a U.S. radar base on Czech soil. Last month, the United States and
Poland reached an agreement on deploying parts of the U.S. global missile shield
in the European country.