Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev has said Russia will have to respond
militarily to the deployment of elements of a U.S. missile shield in
Central Europe, according to RIA Novosti.The
deal to place 10 interceptor missiles in Poland was reached in
mid-August, and followed the signing of an agreement on July 8 by the
U.S. and Czech foreign ministries to place a U.S. radar in the Czech
Republic.
"These missiles are close to our borders and
constitute a threat to us," Medvedev said in an interview with
Al-Jazeera television on Tuesday. "This will create additional tension
and we will have to respond to it in some way, naturally using military
means."
The Russian president said that offering NATO
membership to Georgia and Ukraine, two former Soviet republics, would
only aggravate the situation. He added that the Ukrainian people should
be asked their opinion in national referendum. Opinion polls have
consistently shown that a majority of Ukrainians are against their
country joining the military alliance.
Moscow has consistently
expressed its opposition to the U.S. missile shield, saying it
threatens its national security. The U.S. claims the shield is designed
to thwart missile attacks by what it calls "rogue states," including
Iran.
Medvedev`s statement came on the same day that Russia
recognized the Georgian breakaway republic so South Ossetia and
Abkhazia. The move came two weeks after Moscow concluded its operation
to "force Georgia to peace" following an attack by Georgian troops on
South Ossetia on August.
Western political leaders have
condemned Russia`s decision leading to fears of a renewed Cold War.
U.S. President George Bush said in a statement on Tuesday: "Russia`s
action only exacerbates tensions and complicates diplomatic
negotiations."
"We are not afraid of anything, including the
prospect of a new Cold War, but we don`t want one, and in this
situation everything depends on the position of our partners," Medvedev
told the Russia Today international news channel on Tuesday.
