Russia's first deputy PM says Iskander tests were
successful -1
15:35 | 04/ 06/ 2007
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(recasts headline, lead, para 3, adds background in paras
4-6)
MOSCOW, June 4 (RIA Novosti) - Monitoring data show that last
week's tests of the Russia's new Iskander SS-26 Stone missile were
successful, a first deputy prime minister said Monday.
Speaking to the president at his meeting with the Cabinet, Sergei
Ivanov said: "We have objective monitoring data, including
photographic, which show that the tests were successful. The
deviation of the mockup from the target point was one meter."
Ivanov, a former defense minister, said this was a good result,
given that the tests were preliminary.
Russian officials earlier said the tests of a new version of the
Iskander-M ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple warheads
and of the RS-24 MIRV cruise missile were a response to U.S. plans
to deploy missile shield elements in Europe, and the opening of
NATO bases in former Eastern Bloc states.
Washington announced in January it would install a radar system in
the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in Poland to counter
possible missile attacks from Iran and North Korea. Russia has
dismissed the argument as ungrounded and considers the plans a
security threat.
President Vladimir Putin earlier also said Russia could withdraw
from the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty, arguing that
the arms reduction pact had not been ratified by any NATO member
states. NATO members have demanded that Russia first withdraw from
Soviet-era bases in Georgia and Moldova under previous
agreements.
