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.

Russian defense pact with Abkhazia upsets NATO

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=118915§ionid=351020602


The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has hit back at Moscow for signing a deal with Abkhazia for the construction of a military base in the Black Sea enclave.

The alliance swiftly urged the Kremlin to reverse what it called its “invalid” agreement, saying it violates restrictions on military forces set in a 2008 peace accord.

"The North Atlantic Council has condemned the decision by the Russian Federation to recognize the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and calls on it to revoke this decision," the alliance spokeswoman Carmen Romero said.

“[NATO] continues to call on Russia to respect its engagements under the (2008) ceasefire accord concluded under EU mediation," she added.

Abkhazia's leader Sergei Bagapsh signed the agreement with the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at the Kremlin on Wednesday.

The pact will build on previous agreements that allow Russia to maintain troops and border guards in the region.

According to the Russian RIA-Novosti news agency, the agreement allows Russian forces "to defend the sovereignty and safety of the Republic jointly with the armed forces of Abkhazia."

The deal, which will be in force for 49 years, determines the legal status of Russian personnel and base property.

Tbilisi has condemned the pact as part of what it calls Moscow's strategy of occupation.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says the agreement will help Abkhazia develop as an independent state.

Moscow recognized the Republic of Abkhazia in August 2008 after crushing a military assault by Georgia's US-allied government on the other autonomous region of South Ossetia. Several other countries later followed suit.

Romania approves US missile deployment

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=117880§ionid=351020606


Romania has given the go-ahead to a revamped Washington plan to deploy medium-range ballistic missile interceptors in the Black Sea state.

Romania's President Traian Basescu announced on Thursday that the country's Supreme Defense Council has approved a Washington proposal to include Romania in a defense system against "potential attacks with ballistic missiles or medium-range rockets."

"Terrestrial interceptors will be located inside the national territory," he said, according to Reuters, adding that the US facilities were expected to become operational in 2015.

Basescu said that the missile project is merely aimed at protecting Europe and Romania, reiterating that the anti-missile system is not a threat against Russia.

"The new system is not against Russia. I want to categorically stress this, Romania does not host a system against Russia, but against other threats," he said.

US President Barack Obama scrapped a Bush-era missile project to place interceptors in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic, introducing the new plan which involves Romania.

The new plan, however, still needs the backing of Romania's parliament, before it can be implemented.