US cruiser in Black Sea angers Russia

US Navy officers at the Black Sea port of Constanta, Romania (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/184326.html

Russia has protested against the presence of a US Navy cruiser in the Black Sea which is preparing for joint naval exercises with Ukraine.

On Sunday, Russia criticized the deployment of the Monetary cruiser, which is equipped with a ballistic missile system, in the Black Sea, saying its presence is a threat to Russia's national security, AFP reported.

“We have a number of questions regarding the arrival in the Black Sea of the US Navy cruiser Monterey to participate in the Ukrainian-US Sea Breeze 2011 exercises,” a Sunday statement by Russia's foreign ministry said.

Russia announced that it would not ignore “the appearance of elements of US strategic infrastructure in the immediate proximity to our borders and will see such steps as a threat to our security.”

Moscow has failed to reach an agreement with the West on a missile system project for Europe, saying the Washington did not provide guarantees that its missile system was not aimed at Russia.

The US has rejected Russia's call for a shared control of the missile system.

The US and Romania agreed in May on the deployment of parts of the missile system in the European country.