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Russia to build anti-missile system in Caucasus,Asia

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-06 16:15

MOSCOW  -- Russia plans to establish an anti-missile system in the Caucasus and central Asian regions, the Russian newspaper Commersant reported Tuesday citing the commander-in-chief of Russia's Air Force.

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Previous cooperation on missile defense systems has proven that the joint regional anti-missile system established by members of the Commonwealth of Independent States should be expanded, Commersant quoted Air Force Commander-in-Chief Alexander Zelin as saying.

A similar missile defense system should be established in the Caucasus and central Asia in the future, Zelin said.

The joint missile defense system currently includes missile defense or air force units of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine, Zelin said.

The United States plans to build a radar base in the Czech Republic and an interceptor missile base in neighboring Poland.

Russia strongly opposes the US missile defense plans in eastern Europe, saying the planned installation poses a threat to its security.