Russia Demands Permanent Access To U.S. Defense Missiles Sites In Europe

April 9, 2008 7:50 a.m. EST

Moscow, Russia (AHN) - For Russia to agree to the proposed U.S. defense missile system in eastern Europe, Russian officials demanded that their own military officers must have permanent access to the missile sites.

Russian Foreign minister Sergei Lagrov told Moscow-based Ekho Moskvy radio on Tuesday that the Russian government is unhappy with the frequent access to the missiles sites as earlier offered by the U.S. government.

"In all these many proposals, were interested only in two things - the permanent presence of our officers and reliable technological means of monitoring (activity at the sites)," Lavrov was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

Lavrov clarified that Russia simply wants to make sure that a battery of 10 U.S. missile interceptors in Poland and the radar in the Czech Republic are not pointed at Russia, according to CNN.

The foreign minister added, "For us, it is important that we should see second-by-second where that radar is looking, and what is happening at the ... base in the Czech Republic."

Russia has vehemently opposed the U.S. plans to build the defense missile systems in Poland and the Czech Republic. President Vladimir Putin voiced out Russia's concerns on the plans during the NATO Summit, saying the system is a threat to its security.

The United States is planning to relocate its X-band radar from Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific to the Czech Republic. 10 interceptor missiles are also being proposed to be set up in Poland.

Russia's foreign minister warned during his radio interview that Russia would retaliate using "military-technical measures" should U.S. ignore its demands, referring to the deployment of weapons that can penetrate the missile shield.