UPDATED ON:
Saturday, August 16, 2008
20:47 Mecca time, 17:47 GMT
News Europe
Ukraine to open defences to West
Ukraine is prepared to share information from its missile warning system with Western nations [AFP]

Ukraine is prepared to open its missile defence network to co-operation with European and other foreign powers, the ex-Soviet republic's foreign ministry has said.

The ministry said on Saturday, that the demise of a bilateral Russian-Ukrainian defence agreement earlier this year "allows Ukraine to establish active co-operation with European countries".

The offer came as Poland finalised an agreement to host elements of a US missile defence shield that Moscow describes as a threat to its national security.

Ukraine's foreign ministry said Kiev could invite European partners to integrate their early warning systems against missile attacks.

Ukraine is also ready to deal with "foreign countries interested in getting information about the situation in space," the ministry statement said.

Russia's parliament voted to withdraw from a bilateral missile radar accord in January in response to Ukraine's application for membership of the Nato military alliance.

Symbolic gesture

Analysts say the gesture is symbolic and that Ukraine is trying to show support for Georgia and move closer to the West in choosing alliances and overseeing its security.

A ministry statement said that because Russia pulled out of the agreement earlier this year, it allowed Ukraine to co-operate with other countries.

"The fact that Ukraine is no longer a party to the ... 1992 agreement allows it to launch active co-operation with European countries to integrate its stations with ... governments with an interest in receiving data of the situation in space," it said.

Viktor Yushchenko, Ukraine's president, issued a decree this week putting an end to Ukraine's participation in the 1992 accord with Russia.

Ukraine's pro-Western leadership, brought to power by "Orange Revolution" protests in 2004 and committed to securing Nato membership, has been increasingly at odds with Russia on a range of foreign policy issues.

Yushchenko has been critical of Russia's position in its conflict with Georgia over South Ossetia.

A presidential decree this week obliged commanders of Russia's Black Sea fleet, based in Ukraine's Crimea peninsula, to seek permission before moving warships and aircraft.

Moscow denounced the move as "anti-Russian" and said its commanders would disregard the order as its forces answered solely to the Russian president.

 Source: Agencies
 
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Feedback Number of comments : 3
 
ayub
Afghanistan
17/08/2008
Missile defence system.
What does it "missile defence"exactly mean?..The US is assertive in establishing power and homogyny around the world.But the US is forgetting something here,a bully can only push the weak so far.If and when the weak gets angry or retaliates the bully has no chance.The Russsians are a superpower they are not weak by any means,if pushed around enough and it seems the US is provoking and testing the Russians.I wouldn't put it past the Russians to use nuclear force and reassert itself as a force.

Zalan
Afghanistan
18/08/2008
The bully and the meak weak
Good one ayub! :) "when the weak gets angry or retaliates the bully has no chance" It made my day!!!

Larry S
Afghanistan
18/08/2008
Radar early warning system
I think this doesnt mean much to russia or else they would have maintained the agreement. As far as I can tell Russia does not need an early warning system based in the Ukraine. They aren't considered to be enemies of rogue nations. The west is however and the Ukraine post would help them. I wonder if that would make the Ukraine a potential target for a rogue nation. Might backfire on them

 
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