Azerbaijan: Let's talk on missile system

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

BAKU, Azerbaijan - Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyanov said Friday that Azerbaijan is ready to consider proposed joint U.S.-Russian use of a radar facility in the country as part of a missile defense system.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made the proposal Thursday to President Bush as an alternative to U.S. plans to deploy missile-defense elements in Eastern European countries, a plan to which Russia bitterly objects.

"At this time, Azerbaijan's position, which is supported by the United States and Russia, is that it's necessary to start consultations in a two- or three-sided format. I can say that Azerbaijan is ready for such consultations," the foreign minister said at a briefing.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070608/ap_on_re_eu/azerbaijan_missile_defense

[maddezmom]

1. NATO chief casts doubt on Russian shield offer

BRUSSELS, June 8 (Reuters) - NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer cast doubt on Friday on a Russian proposal that the United States use a Russian-controlled radar in Azerbaijan for a missile defence shield.

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to President George. W Bush at a Group of Eight summit on Thursday that Washington use the Azeri radar instead of planned missile interceptors in Poland and a radar in the Czech Gepublic, a project Moscow suspects is aimed at its own arsenal.

"I think it is a bit close to the rogue states we are discussing," de Hoop Scheffer told a defence conference in Brussels of the proposed Russian alternative.

"But it's a bit too early in the day for my final judgement. It is always useful when two presidents are constructively talking to each other on this."

more:http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L08584037.htm

[bemildred]

2. LOL. Jaap de Hoop hasn't got his instructions yet, but he knows

a verbal hand-grenade when he sees one.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Joke country with an appalling human rights record

They don't even need rigged voting machines. Thought that would've suited Bushy just fine.

Old link but nothing has changed there:
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0123-01.htm

[rodeodance]

4. so, how much will Bush offer---how many carrots?? aka $$$