Russia Warns Caucasus States On Missile Shield

Russia has warned former Soviet republics in the Caucasus that relations with Moscow would be damaged if any country even considered deploying parts of a planned U.S. missile-defense shield.

The comments by Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin came after the U.S. Missile Defense Agency earlier this month said Washington could be interested in locating a radar in an unspecified Caucasus state.

Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia have all said they have not received a U.S. request to that effect.

Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org