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Рубрики Современность; ВВС; Политек; Версия для печати

Re: Интервью главного...

Ваша позиция понятна и рецепт тоже. Вот только Вы не объяснили, кто в этом убедит европейцев (а тем более американцев), если этого не смогли сделать ни Ивашов, ни оба Ивановых, ни Путин, ни российская пресса, поддерживающая жесткую официальную позицию. Вот взгляните, например, на прилагаемую статью. Она довольно показательна.

В идеологическом соперничестве - также как и в экономическом - исход сражения решают ресурсы. А если их нет, то есть ли смысл лезть в драку?

С наилучшими пожеланиями,
Е. Мясников

Russia to Blame for U.S. Missile Defense, Canberra Says

CANBERRA, Feb 7, 2001 -- (Reuters) Australia has dismissed Chinese concerns about U.S. plans for a missile defense system and blamed Russia for making the project necessary.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Moscow, a fierce critic of the U.S. National Missile Defense (NMD) program, was partly responsible for the proliferation of missile technology to "rogue states", which made the system worth developing.

"A lot of the debate here is directed at the United States," Downer said in his first comments on the NMD program since President George W. Bush came into office.

"I frankly think an awful lot of the debate should instead be directed not only towards those countries that have got or are developing these missile systems, but the countries that have been transferring that missile technology to those countries," he told ABC television on Tuesday night.

"For example, Russia expresses concern... But Russia is a country that has been involved in the proliferation of missile technology. If there were no missiles there would be no need for a missile defense system." A transcript of the interview was issued on Wednesday.

OPPOSITION DISMAYED

The opposition Labor party reacted with dismay to what it deemed as a hardening of Prime Minister John Howard's backing of U.S. plans to develop NMD, which is opposed not only by Russia but also by China and many of Washington's European allies.

Critics argue that Australia, which has very close ties to China because of extensive trade, should take a nonpartisan stand on NMD and resist being drawn into any kind of confrontation as an ally of the United States.

Northern Australia is also the base of a joint Australian-U.S. monitoring station at Pinewood that would provide early warning in case of a nuclear attack, and would presumably become a key part of a U.S. missile defense system.

Opponents argue that Australia would become a prime target in a nuclear war because of its role as the "eyes and ears" of the American forces.

Labor's foreign affairs spokesman Laurie Brereton said Downer's comments "leave little doubt that the Howard government is prepared to subordinate its strategic thinking to that of the Bush administration".

"Missile proliferation is a serious problem, but pushing ahead with National Missile Defense will leave the world less rather than more secure," Brereton said. "The Howard government's stance fails to weigh NMD's negative implications for Asia-Pacific security."

NOT A BIG ISSUE IN AUSTRALIA-CHINA TIES

Downer dismissed China's misgivings, saying the missile defense program was not against China but against small states that had got their hands on missile technology.

He also brushed off comments from Beijing that China's reaction to NMD would be to increase its relatively small stock of 18 to 20 intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The foreign minister said China had already stated it would modernize its ballistic missile capacity no matter what.

"That presumably means to expand it," he said. "I think we're arriving at a point where it's not entirely clear that their (China's) concerns are going to be very valid."

A spokesman for Downer said Canberra had held various talks with Chinese officials and felt "it's not going to be a big issue in our relations".

The foreign minister said he had not yet discussed NMD with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell but would "in time."