Missiles, Radar & ☢ Nuclear Weapons.

[TsarSamuil]

Bulgaria Restates Plans of Inclusion in US Missile Defense.

Novinite.com
Defense | May 15, 2010, Saturday

Bulgaria will request participation in the US missile shield in Europe and intensification of the dialogue with NATO, Defense Minister, Anyu Angelov, confirmed Saturday.

Angelov, who spoke at a special press conference, said the topics will be discussed during the visit of NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, in Bulgaria on May 20.

The Minister also pointed out that discussions about exact technical parameters and details about what parts of the shield will be located in Bulgaria have not yet taken place, but are forthcoming.

Angelov explained the possibility of a local conflict is almost inexistent, but there is a threat of attacks on strategic facilities and infrastructure by small and medium-range ballistic rockets from countries far away from Bulgaria thus the need of inclusion in the NATO anti-missile system.

The Minister further said he would appraise Fog Rasmussen about the activities of the Bulgarian army as they relate to NATO missions, the State’s concept about NATO participation and the real threats the county is facing.

The country's position on plans to deploy US interceptor missiles on Bulgarian soil was presented by Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, during the meeting of US President, Barack Obama, with leaders from Central and Eastern Europe in Prague on April 8.

Borisov said that Bulgaria and all countries in Eastern Europe lack any protection and abilities to react and even the nuclear power plants are unprotected.

“The question about Bulgaria's support for a new US missile defense system in Europe has not been officially posed, but when this happens, the Parliament will have the final say,” Borisov told Obama, stressing that Bulgaria must be the active partner.

Meanwhile, neighboring Romania announced that it would host interceptor missiles as part of a US missile defense system on its soil.

A US State Department official has said earlier the facilities in Romania are to become operational by 2015 and are designed as protection against "current and emerging ballistic missile threats from Iran."

The planned deployment in Bulgaria and Romania comes after US President Barack Obama scrapped plans for a radar and interceptor missiles in the Czech Republic and Poland, which Russia fiercely opposed as a national security threat and a blow on its nuclear deterrent.

The plans have drawn sharp criticism from Moscow, where officials described the earlier project to base radar and missiles in the Czech Republic and Poland as a threat to Russia.

Washington says the missile shield is designed to protect against short- and medium-range missiles from Iran, and is not directed against Russia.

[TsarSamuil]

Russia, Brazil hold talks on delivery of air defense systems.

Russia and Brazil are negotiating a deal for the delivery of unspecified air defense systems to the Latin American country, a Russian government official said on Friday.

"We are considering any system in general terms," said Mikhail Dmitriyev, head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation.

"We don't mind what they agree to buy. It could be Tor systems," he added.

The Tor-M1, developed by the Russian company Almaz-Antei, is a low-to-medium-altitude, short-range surface-to-air missile system designed to intercept aircraft, cruise missiles, precision-guided munitions and unpiloted aerial vehicles.

The talks are being held in the framework of the Russian-Brazilian joint trade commission.

Russia recently delivered three out of 12 Mi-35M Hind E attack helicopters to Brazil under a 2008 contract, worth $150 million.

MOSCOW, May 14 (RIA Novosti)

[TsarSamuil]

NATO, Russia to link tactical anti-missile systems.

Wed May 19, 11:15 am ET

BRUSSELS – NATO and Russia said on Wednesday they intend to boost efforts to develop a joint system to protect their troops from attack by short-range missiles.

Neither Russia nor NATO face imminent threats from such battlefield weapons. But cooperation in this field is seen as opening the way for the former Cold War rivals to work together on developing a much wider anti-missile system designed to protect Europe and North America against Iran's nascent long-range missile capability.

The Theater Missile Defense System used now by some NATO nations is based on upgraded versions of the U.S. Patriot anti-aircraft missiles. Russia has its own S-300 Gladiator short-range system.

The short-range battlefield systems are separate from President Barack Obama's proposal for a much more sophisticated ballistic missile defense system for Europe. NATO nations are likely to approve that at a summit next November in Lisbon, Portugal.

NATO has already urged Moscow to join into the wider, territorial missile defense system, identifying Iran's missile program as a threat to both Russia and NATO's 28 member states.

"More than 30 countries have or are developing ballistic missiles, not all of whom are friends. Iran is an obvious example," NATO spokesman James Appathurai said.

Typically, the range of battlefield missiles is about 300 kilometers (nearly 200 miles). While Iranian tactical weapons would be unable to reach either Russia or NATO countries, they could be employed against U.S. and NATO troops in neighboring Afghanistan and Iraq.

[TsarSamuil]

Bulgaria Favors US Missile Shield As All-out NATO Initiative.

Novinite.com
Diplomacy | May 20, 2010, Thursday

NATO needs new defense protecting its members from new threats such as terrorism, missile attacks, and cyber attacks, declared its Secretary-General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, in Sofia.

Rasmussen met Thursday with the Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov in Sofia. After the meeting, he revealed the main topic of the talks was the new strategic concept of the pact, which is to be adopted in Lisbon in November 2010.

“The new strategy will confirm that the main task of NATO is to protect the territories and population of the member states. At the same time, it is going to indicate the roads for the transformation of the Alliance so that it is prepared to protect itself from the new threats,” explained the NATO Secretary-General.

In this respect, Rasmussen underscored the importance of the US plan for deploying a missile defense system in Europe which should be capable of defending all member states of the pact from missile attacks.

The NATO chief expressed his hope that during the Lisbon Summit in November, the member states will adopt the American initiative as a NATO plan. He pointed out that the US-proposed missile shield will cost less than EUR 200 M, and will provide for the efficient defense of all 28 member states.

According to the plan of the Obama Administration for a US missile defense in Europe, components of the shield will be based on sea and on the territory of Bulgaria and Romania. It replaced the original plan put forth by the Bush Administration providing for a missile shield system based in Poland and the Czech Republic.

During his visit to Sofia, the NATO Secretary-General said he hoped that the Alliance will be able to cooperate with Russia for the establishment of the missile defense.

“This initiative has two aspects – military and political. The Alliance can receive a lot from Russia in the context of the setting up of the missile defense in military terms. In political terms, this potential cooperation will eliminate Russia’s fears that this system is directed again it,” Rasmussen explained while also emphasizing that the idea for cooperation had already been discussed within the NATO-Russia Council, but that further talks were coming down the road.

He further declared that the recent uranium enrichment deal reach by the leaders of Brasil, Iran, and Turkey, which according to some analysts is supposed to assuage West’s fear over the Iranian nuclear program, did not alter the plans of the North Atlantic Alliance to establish a missle shield in Europe. According to the official doctrine of the proposed US missile defense in Europe, the system is supposed to protect the European NATO members from missile attacks from Iran and the Middle East.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen evaluated highly the new approach of the US Presidency in the face of Barack Obama to the missile defense in Europe, and praised the intention to transform the plans from a purely American into a NATO initiative.

“From the very beginning we have declared that we will participate in the European missile defense if it is an initiative of NATO. I don’t imagine how we can stay out of a system encompassing all of Europe,” Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov declared in reply to the statements made by Rasmussen.

Borisov pointed out that the new NATO strategy will focus on defending not just the armed forces but all the entire population of the member states of the Pact.

“This missile shield system aims to attract Russia to join in. This is exactly how NATO wants to demonstrate that it is an organization defending the people in all countries,” the Bulgarian PM stressed adding that Bulgaria had declared support for all Balkan countries wishing to join the Alliance.

[TsarSamuil]

Russia postpones Bulava missile tests until November.

Russia has postponed test launches of the troubled Bulava ballistic missile until November this year, the Russian defense minister said on Friday.

The latest launch of the missile, which Russia hopes will be a key element of its nuclear forces, from the Dmitry Donskoy nuclear submarine in the White Sea ended in failure in early December 2009. Only five of 12 Bulava launches have been officially reported as being successful.

The Russian Navy earlier planned at least four new test launches of the missile at the end of June, but defense industry experts suggested they would need to build three missiles under identical conditions to establish the causes of the failures.

"We should be ready to resume the [Bulava] tests by November, I think," Anatoly Serdyukov said during talks in Italy, which involved the defense and foreign ministers of both countries.

Serdyukov said that the problems with the missile apparently originate from the faulty assembly process.

"It all comes from the poor quality of assembly. But each failed launch has experienced different problems," the minister said, adding that only the testing of three identical missiles would allow the experts to pinpoint the cause of failures.

The Bulava (SS-NX-30) is a three-stage liquid and solid-propellant submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). It carries up to 10 MIRV warheads and has a range of over 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles).

The missile has been specifically designed for Russia's new Borey class nuclear submarines.

The future development of Bulava has been questioned by some lawmakers and defense industry officials who suggest that the Russian Navy should keep using the more reliable Sineva SLBM.

The Russian military has insisted that there is no alternative to the Bulava and pledged to continue testing the missile until it is ready to be deployed with the Navy.

MOSCOW, May 21 (RIA Novosti)

[TsarSamuil]

ROAR: NATO finds its new “mission” in missile defense shield for Europe.

RussiaToday.com
Sergey Borisov,
Russian Opinion and Analysis Review
21 May, 2010, 16:23

The Western alliance may see Moscow as a partner in a missile defense program, but analysts warn that joining any European or transatlantic security systems may threaten Russia in the future.

The alliance’s Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, discussed NATO’s reform, missile defense and Afghanistan with the Bulgarian leadership on May 20. Another topic on the agenda was the new strategic concept of the alliance to be adopted in November in Lisbon.

Rasmussen has invited Moscow to participate in the missile defense program for Europe. However, Russia is yet to receive the details of the new initiative.

The secretary general said in Sofia that he wanted “the benefits and the responsibilities” of missile defense to be shared by all the members of the alliance. He stressed the time has come to “make missile defense a genuine alliance mission” and promised it would be his target for the summit in Lisbon.

Speaking at the Central Military Club in Sofia, Rasmussen said that NATO’s missile defense would cover the whole of Europe and the project should include Russia. There are no unsolvable differences, he said, adding that Moscow could have a new approach to modern threats.

However, the US is working on its own missile shield, which is also provoking Russia’s concerns. Washington has scrapped plans to deploy elements of this shield in the Czech Republic and Poland. But later Romania and Bulgaria said they were ready to host parts of the system on their territories.

After meeting with Rasmussen, Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov said that the exact position of the elements from the system has not been determined yet. The discussion about the entire concept of the shield has been continuing, he explained. At the same time, the president described the idea of future co-operation with Moscow in the regard to the shield as “positive,” media say.

Many analysts stress that it is unclear if the anti-missile programs of NATO and the US will be combined. Rasmussen said in Bulgaria that the integration of the US anti-missile system and that of the alliance should be discussed to establish effective shield protecting 900 million people in Europe from possible missile attacks.

Earlier, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov said that the main discussion on the issue would be held during the Lisbon summit. If the heads of states give their blessing for the shield in Europe, then the specific parameters will be developed.

In February, Mladenov said that Bulgaria was not holding talks with the US about deploying elements of missile defense shield on its territory.

The issue of missile defense for Europe is in the focus of the Russian-NATO co-operation. Speaking at a news conference in Rome on May 20, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov demanded clarification from NATO on the missile defense talks with Bulgaria.

The architecture of missile defense as a result of these discussions “should be based on agreed collective principles and such understanding has been reached between Russia and the US at the highest level,” Lavrov said.

Waiting for such explanations too, many observers try to understand the character of changes that NATO’s new strategic concept may bring with itself. In any case, the document mentions Russia many times, Kirill Petrov of the Moscow Institute of International Relations told Finam.ru website.

And the desire of NATO to create the missile defense together with Russia is “considerable progress” compared to the plans of the previous US administration to deploy elements of the missile defense in Eastern Europe without Russia’s participation, the analyst stressed.

The concept also sees the alliance as a more monolithic organization, Petrov said. At the same time, it remains “a regional Euro-Atlantic bloc.” The alliance is not ready to fulfill functions of “a global policeman,” although it is able to conduct operations throughout the world, he noted.

Such approach, however, is linked more to the lack of technical possibility and resources, rather than political will, the analyst said. The conditions under which NATO may be used beyond the alliance’s boundaries are also unclear, the analyst said. It is possible that the bloc’s leadership will make these conditions more defined by November, he added.

Anatoly Tsyganok, director for the Center of Military Forecasting at the Institute of Political and Military Analysis, on the contrary, believes that NATO does not “fulfill its commitments about the area of their responsibility,” he told the website. And Russia is “somewhat concerned about it,” he added.

According to the draft strategic concept of the alliance possible missile attack from rogue states remains one of the most important threats, Krasnaya Zvezda daily said. NATO’s group of wise men, headed by former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, recommended that the alliance “integrate” the US system of missile defense, it added. It is Albright who believes that the missile defense shield for Europe should become the alliance’s mission.

NATO will have to spend at least 200 million euros on the missile defense system over 10 years, media say. So far, Russia’s reaction to the Rasmussen’s invitation has been rather positive, analysts say, but many questions about the details remain.

Moscow indicated contradictions in the alliance’s position because other ways of developing the system without Russia’s participation are also being discussed, Rosbalt news agency said.

At the same time, some analysts expect the future threats for Russia if it agrees to co-operate with NATO in developing such a shield. The initiative to develop the system under the aegis of the alliance “brings nothing but a threat to Russia,” believes Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of National Defense magazine.

This threat may be “materialized by 2030 when this missile system will be able to intercept and destroy Russia’s ballistic missiles at the beginning and the medium stages of trajectory,” Korotchenko told Rosbalt.

Now Iran and North Korea are in the focus of the discussion about the missile defense shield, but it does not make the problem easier for Russia, the analyst said. The main motives behind deploying the shield in Europe are the same, and they are aimed “at decreasing Russia’s potential of nuclear containment,” he added.

Russia’s “well-disposed reaction” to the NATO’s initiative may be explained by Moscow’s maneuvers when it “has no chance to pressure the US and make it change the plans regarding missile defense,” he said.

But any attempt by Moscow to integrate with European or transatlantic security systems “may mean in the practical sphere the loss of independence in taking foreign policy decisions,” the analyst stressed.

[TsarSamuil]

First Patriot missiles already in Poland.

IAR
24.05.2010 17:13

The US Patriot air defence batteries and around 100 American troops have arrived in the town of Morag, northern Poland, 60 kilometers from the Russian Kaliningrad border.

Since early morning soldiers of the US 5th Battalion and 7th Air Defence Artillery have been unloading the missiles from 37 train carriages.

"It’s an important day for Poland and the United States, for our common goals and interests," said U.S. ambassador to Poland Lee Feinstein.

The first Patriots arrived in Poland after the SOFA agreement (Supplemental Status of Forces Agreement) at the beginning of this year.

The US soldiers will train Polish troops on how to use the Patriot defence system. The American soldiers accompanied the the battery from Kaiserslautern in Germany last night.

On Wednesday, May 26, Ambassador Feinstein and Brigadier General Mark Bellini, Operations Sustainment Director, U.S. Army Europe, will join Polish officials in Morąg to greet U.S. and Polish soldiers and to inspect the Patriot battery.

Hosting Patriots in Poland was part of Warsaw’s condition for the stationing of the now abandoned Central European missile system, agreed with the previous Bush administration in 2008. (mg/pg)

[TsarSamuil]

Russia Reacts Strongly to Deployment of US Missiles in Poland.

Novinite.com
Business | May 26, 2010, Wednesday

Russia has objected to the deployment of Patriot missiles by the United States in Morag, Poland.

A battery of US surface-to-air missiles Patriot was stationed Tuesday in the northern Polish city of Morag, 60 km from the Polish-Russian border under an agreement between the US and Poland from December 11, 2009.

The agreement was ratified by the Polish Sejm in February, and provides for a temporary US military base in Morag which is to become permanent in 2012.

“Missiles will be rotated in and out of Poland over the next two years for training in their use. Each rotation will be accompanied by 100 to 150 U.S. Soldiers,” explained Andrew Paul, spokesman of the U.S. Embassy in Poland.

However, on Wednesday, the Russian Federation reacted by criticizing the move and warning about the effects that it will have on regional security.

“The deployment of American Patriot missiles on the territory of Poland does not favor the security and relations of trust,” states the position of the Russian Foreign Ministry as cited by ITAR-TASS.

Russian officials say they have posed numerous questions about the relocation of the military base far from the border, but neither the Americans, nor the Poles have replied.

The official Polish position is that the choice of Morag, which is very close to Russian Kaliningrad, is due to good infrastructure in the region, and not to strategical or political reasons.

[TsarSamuil]

Sounds good to me!

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Russian Missiles in Bulgaria Key for Joint Missile Defense - Expert.

Novinite.com
Diplomacy | June 2, 2010, Wednesday

A Russian strategic studies scholar has suggested the full-fledged cooperation between NATO and Russia on missile defense in Europe would require stationing Russian missiles in Bulgaria and Romania.

According to Gen. Vladimir Dvorkin, former head of the Fourth Central Scientific Institute of the Russian Defense Ministry, which is change of its strategic arms, it is in Russia’s interest to cooperate with the USA and NATO with respect to the setting up a missile shield in Europe.

“In order for Russia to be able to participate in such cooperation, we could suggest a very effective move: the Russian general stuff should request the stationing of our missile systems S-300 in Bulgaria or Romania,” stated Dvorkin during a seminar at the Moscow Carnegie Center on the ratification of START II treaty on nuclear armanents.

His statement was published in Bulgarian on the website of “The Voice of Russia”, the Russian state radio broadcasting abroad.

According to Gen. Dvorkin, who is an international studies scholar, the Russian missiles S-300 are superior to the American missile complexes THAAD and Patriot, and, if stationed as part of a joint missile defense in Bulgaria and Romania, in the future they could be replaced with the more modern missiles S-400 or S-500.

“Then we will be able to really talk about a cooperation not just in the field of the information systems,” says Dvorkin while pointing out that if Russia and the United States fail to establish strong cooperation within a missile defense system, the two powers will be faced with a new crisis in their relations.

According to recent statements of American government officials, the USA has not asked Bulgaria formally to host elements of the planned US-NATO missile defense in Europe.

The Bulgarian government has made it clear that it expects the missile shield in Europe project of the Obama Administration, which supplanted an earlier Bush Administration plan, to become an initiative of all NATO member states. This is expected to happen during th NATO summit in Lisbon in the fall of 2010.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen favors Russia’s inclusion into the project; however, it is still unclear if NATO and Russia will come to an agreement about the specific parameters of the shield.

[TsarSamuil]

Clinton hails Romania's willingness to host U.S. missiles.

Romania's readiness to host U.S. missile defense systems demonstrates its 'serious' attitude to global security, U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has said.

"We are very pleased Romania has agreed to host elements of the phased adaptive approach to missile defense in Europe as we pursue this shared goal," Clinton said after a meeting with Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi in Washington on Tuesday.

"This decision highlights the seriousness with which Romania approaches its role in NATO and its commitment to enhancing global security," the U.S. secretary of state said.

She described the talks, which focused on "the main bilateral topics on our agenda," as "excellent."

In February, Romania and Bulgaria said they were in talks with U.S. President Barack Obama's administration on deploying elements of the U.S. missile shield on their territories from 2015.

The move came after Obama suspended last September plans by the Bush administration to deploy missile-defense elements in the Czech Republic and Poland due to a reassessment of the threat from Iran. Russia fiercely opposed the plans as a threat to its national security.

Last week, the U.S. opened a temporary military base near the northern Polish town of Morag, 80 km (50 miles) from the Russian border, in accordance with an agreement negotiated under former President George Bush in 2008.

The U.S. troops will be deployed at the base to train Polish forces until 2012, when the base is expected to become permanent. The move has brought a strong reaction from Moscow, which is particularly displeased by its proximity to Russia's Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad.

Russia has suggested the base be moved away from the borders, and the Foreign Ministry has said that the deployment does not enhance regional security and cooperation.

In late April, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that Moscow was interested in cooperation with NATO on issues of anti-missile defense in Europe.

WASHINGTON, June 2 (RIA Novosti)

[TsarSamuil]

Russia to freeze Iran missile contract after UN vote.

Russia will freeze a contract to sell S-300 missile systems to Iran after the United Nations Security Council imposed a fourth round of sanctions on the Islamic Republic, Interfax news agency reported.

"Naturally, the contract to deliver S-300 missile systems will be frozen," Interfax cited an unidentified source in Russia's arms industry as saying.

(Reuters)

[TsarSamuil]

Russian-Iranian S-300 missile deal not against UN resolution — U.S.

The U.S. State Department said on Friday that the delivery of Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to Iran is not against the recently imposed UN sanctions.

The Resolution 1929, adopted on Wednesday, imposes the fourth round of sanctions against Iran, including tougher financial controls and an expanded arms embargo. It also imposes an asset ban and a travel freeze on more than three dozen companies and individuals.

"The [Resolution] 1929 prohibits the sale and transfer of items on the U.S. Register of Conventional Arms, which does not include the S-300. That said, this is a sale that Russia concluded with Iran a number of years ago and Russia has exercised responsibility and restraint and has not, at this point, delivered those missiles to Iran," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told a daily press briefing.

He said that the Resolution 1929 is aimed at strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime and provides a framework for addressing nuclear non-proliferation concerns of the global community.

"There's significant limitations on conventional weapons, missile technology, nuclear technology. It [the resolution] focuses on banking, financial sector and so forth," Crowley said.

"So we are looking for a strong, united international response to make it clear to Iran that it will pay a price for its current course and that it should — based on this pressure, that it will begin to feel — very quickly change course," he added.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday Russia would ensure "absolute protection for all significant channels of trade and economic cooperation existing between Russia and Iran."

Lavrov said Russia will also continue to cooperate with Iran on the Islamic Republic's first nuclear power plant.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said the delivery of Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to Iran will not be hit by the UN resolution.

WASHINGTON, June 11 (RIA Novosti)

[TsarSamuil]

Russia backs away from Iran missile deal.

Bbc.co.uk
Friday, 11 June 2010 17:54 UK

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said Moscow will freeze the sale of surface-to-air missiles to Iran, according to French officials.

Mr Putin made the comments in talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris, the officials said.

In an apparent change of direction by Moscow, Russia's foreign minister said President Dmitry Medvedev will decree which weapons cannot be sold to Iran.

Sergey Lavrov earlier said the missiles were not subject to fresh UN sanctions.

Russia agreed to supply Iran with S-300 systems several years ago but has not delivered them.

Mr Lavrov said on Thursday that a fourth round of sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council this week would not affect Russia's contract to supply Iran with the missiles.

But on Friday he said: "According to our practice, the UN Security Council resolution is implemented through decrees issued by the Russian president. A decree to this effect will be prepared."

Correspondents say a flurry of statements by officials on Friday suggest Moscow is changing tack on the missile deal.
Iran 'unhappy'

President Sarkozy's office said on Friday Mr Putin had confirmed Russia would shelve the delivery.

A spokesman for Mr Sarkozy quoted the Russian leader as saying Iran was "very unhappy" and wanted to impose penalties on Moscow.

Mr Sarkozy praised the Russian leadership for supporting the sanctions during a meeting with Mr Putin at the Elysee place.

"It is an extremely courageous measure that will cost Russia a lot," he told Mr Putin, according to the spokesman.

Military experts say the S-300 systems could enhance Iran's defence of its nuclear facilities against attack from the air.

The White House acknowledged on Thursday that the latest sanctions did not explicitly ban the S-300 sale to Iran, but it welcomed Russia's "restraint" in not delivering them.

"Russia has exercised responsibility, restraint and has not delivered those missiles to Iran," state department spokesman Philip Crowley said.

Iran insists its nuclear enrichment programme is for peaceful purposes, but a number of Western countries suspect it of trying to build nuclear weapons.

The UN Security Council voted by 12 votes to two in favour of fresh sanctions on Wednesday. Brazil and Turkey voted against, while Lebanon abstained.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has denounced the new UN resolutions saying they were like a "used handkerchief which should be thrown in the dustbin. They are not capable of hurting Iranians".

Mr Lavrov said on Thursday that Moscow is discussing building nuclear reactors in Iran in addition to the Bushehr site, due to open in August after years of delay.

[TsarSamuil]

Russia to offer Turkey advanced surface-to-air missiles.

Russia is ready to participate in a tender to offer Turkey S-300 and S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, the state-controlled arms exporter said on Wednesday.

"The Turkish military has a great need for S-300 and S-400 long-range missile defense systems," Rosoboronexport CEO Anatoly Isaikin said. "Russia has expressed its readiness to participate in a tender for the delivery of such systems."

He said leading SAM manufacturers from Western countries would participate in the tender "on a par with Russia."

He gave no indication as to what specific SAM modifications would be offered or the timeframe for the tender.

Turkish military experts have said Ankara is interested in the Russian missiles, which could effectively protect the country's southern borders.

The advanced version of the S-300 missile system, called S-300PMU1, has a range of over 150 kilometers (over 100 miles) and can intercept ballistic missiles and aircraft at low and high altitudes, making it effective in warding off air strikes.

The S-300V/Antey 2500 (SA-12 Gladiator/Giant) consists of a new command vehicle, an array of advanced radars and up to six loader vehicles assigned to each launcher.

The S-400 (SA-21 Growler) is capable of simultaneously engaging six targets to a range of 400 km (250 miles) and an altitude up to 30 kilometers, including aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.

MOSCOW, June 16 (RIA Novosti)

[TsarSamuil]

Iran warns Russia over failure to deliver S-300 missile systems.

Russia will be responsible for the consequences caused by its failure to deliver S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to Iran, the Islamic Republic's Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said on Tuesday.

In an interview with Fars News Agency he said the delivery of the air-defense systems would not violate Russian or international laws.

Moscow said last week it would freeze the delivery of S-300 systems following a new round of UN sanctions imposed on Tehran June 9.

"Russia has a duty to fulfill its obligations... Implementing the S-300 deal is not against Russian laws or international regulations," Vahidi said. "It is obvious that [Russia] is responsible for the damages caused by its failure to implement the deal."

Vahidi also said that Russia would soon announce its official stance on the issue and that Iran would make no further comments until then.

Vahidi said in late April Iran would produce its own missile defense systems similar to Russia's S-300 system.

A Kremlin source said on June 11 the sale of S-300 air defense systems fall under the new UN Security Council's sanctions against Tehran, but the Russian foreign minister said it was up to the president to make the final decision.

UN Security Council Resolution 1929 imposes a fourth round of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, and includes tougher financial controls and an expanded arms embargo.

Russia initially said the delivery of S-300 systems to Iran would not be affected by the new UN sanctions since they are not included in the UN Register of Conventional Arms.

However, experts from the Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation suggested that the S-300 system did come under the new set of sanctions.

Moscow signed a contract on supplying Iran with at least five S-300 systems in December 2005, but delivery has so far been delayed.

The United States and Israel have urged Russia not to deliver the missiles to Tehran.

The S-300 contract is worth some $800 million, while Russian experts estimate the penalty for breach of contract at $400 million.

The advanced version of the S-300 missile system, called S-300PMU1, has a range of over 150 kilometers (over 100 miles) and can intercept ballistic missiles and aircraft at low and high altitudes, making it effective in warding off air strikes.

MOSCOW, June 22 (RIA Novosti)