TIME

ARCHIVE

Yuri Baluyevsky / Photo from RIA-Novosti

Russia Not Preparing for Large-Scale Nuclear, Conventional War — Head of General Staff

Created: 02.12.2005 11:46 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 11:46 MSK

MosNews

Russia stopped preparing for large-scale nuclear and conventional wars long ago, the chief of the country’s General Staff has said. Russia does not regard any particular state as a potential enemy, he added.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Colonel General Yuri Baluyevsky said the country would prepare to defend its own territory and not to wage war on foreign land.

He said Russia and NATO should avoid conflicts in their relations caused by “the remnants of old-thinking among certain politicians and the military,” RIA Novosti news agency reported. “A war between Russia and NATO is not the path we should be seeking.”

Speaking about the domestic situation in a number of former Soviet states, Baluyevsky said CIS member states had the right to determine their destiny without foreign influence and pointed to Russia’s right to defend its interests in the post-Soviet space.

Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said that if Ukraine joined NATO, Russia might stop military and technical cooperation with the country.

Baluyevsky condemned the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for turning into a surveillance organization by overseeing the progress of democratic principles in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Speaking on Russian-U.S. military cooperation, the chief of General Staff said it had an “impulsive character”.

“Military contacts between our countries sometimes work impulsively. When there is a problem, there is an increase in activity. When the problem is gone, the activity gradually subsides.” He also spoke on the cooperation between the two countries in the fight against terrorism.

He added, however, that “although Russia and the U.S. share views on key issues, we do not feel that everything in our relations is going smoothly.”

“The U.S. has made demands that a number of countries’ nuclear programs should be completely transparent,” he said. “On the other hand, the U.S. turns a blind eye to the fact that Israel has for a long time ... had a significant nuclear arsenal.”

Baluyevsky pointed to similar double standards in U.S. cooperation with Russia in other spheres, including control of missile technologies. According to Baluyevsky, the U.S. not only uses its arsenal to defend its interests, but also as a form of leverage to put pressure on rivals on the market for this form of weaponry.

The general also said that Russia had the technology for a strategic missile that could get around any existing or future anti-ballistic missile defense systems. “This is a very expensive technology and its (industrial) production depends on the situation,” he said.
According to Baluyevsky’s point of view, missile defense systems were not even efficient in their defense against existing types of weapons.

SEE ALSO

02.06.2006 11:55 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Russia to Establish Naval Base in Syrian Port of Tartus — Paper

01.06.2006 09:31 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Russian Defense Minister Rules Out Imposed Solution To Karabakh Conflict

18.05.2006 16:04 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Russia, China to Hold Joint Military Exercises Under SCO Aegis

09.05.2006 15:50 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Top General Sees Role of Russian Army to Prevent New World War

28.04.2006 12:37 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

2 Killed in Missile Explosion at Russian Air Base

22.04.2006 11:06 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Russian Parliament Cancels Army Adjournments for Fathers, Village Physicians in First Reading

01.04.2006 17:50 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Hundreds Protest in Moscow Against Existing Military Service System

21.03.2006 18:04 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Russian Opposition File Petition for Defense Minister’s Dismissal

15.03.2006 10:55 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

PACE Report Condemns Violence in Russian Army

26.02.2006 10:15 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Hazing Victim Honored on Russian Army Day

23.02.2006 17:44 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Communists, Pacifists Hold Protest Actions on Russian Army Holiday

15.02.2006 18:00 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Russia’s Defense Minister Blames Society for Military Hazing

13.02.2006 19:21 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Over 50 People Killed in Russian Army in January — Ministry

06.02.2006 22:23 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

About 6,00 Russian Troops Victims of Hazing in 2005 — Military Prosecutor

06.02.2006 14:45 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Russian Frontier Guard Hangs Himself in Dog Kennel

02.02.2006 16:32 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

One-Year-Old Called Up to Serve in Russian Army

01.02.2006 14:23 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Soldiers in Moscow Region Hospitalized With Meningitis

30.01.2006 16:18 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Putin Orders Russian Defense Ministry to Assist Family of Tortured Conscript

30.01.2006 09:22 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

12 Russian Soldiers Charged in Brutal Conscript Torture Case

27.01.2006 18:18 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Head of Military School at Center of Russian Army Torture Scandal Dismissed

27.01.2006 17:36 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Russia to Build New Radar Station — Defense Minister

25.01.2006 14:03 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Russian Army Conscripts Faced Brutal Bullying Over Holidays

18.01.2006 11:38 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Russia to Buy British Robot Rescue Submarine

08.01.2006 16:56 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Russia, India to Hold Joint Paratroop Exercises in August

15.12.2005 14:11 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Russia to Boost New Weapons Spending — Minister

15.12.2005 11:53 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Russian Defense Minister Refutes Media Reports on Radical Military Forces Reform

13.12.2005 15:43 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Phone Lines Go Dead at Russia’s Strategic Missile Troops’ Headquarters

01.12.2005 12:34 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Putin Pushes Bill to Reduce Military Conscription

24.11.2005 16:13 MSK, MOSNEWS.COM

Russian Defense Minister Denies Plans to Deploy Military Base in Uzbekistan

MosNews

Official Suggests Further Tightening Foreigners’ Access to Russia’s Natural Riches

Russian Natural Resources Minister Yuri Trutnev proposed on Tuesday, June 13, to further tighten restrictions on foreign oil companies and to increase the number of oil and gas fields that the government defines as strategic. Trutnev was speaking at the 10th economic forum in St. Petersburg.

LISA VRONSKAYA

MosNews

World Cup Kicks Off Without Russia

Host Germany and Costa Rica got the soccer World Cup underway with a match in Munich on June 9. The World Cup is seen by millions of fans as the biggest soccer event on the planet. It feels sad to see Russia not participating in the tournament.

ADVERTISMENT

MosNews

Ukraine’s Football Achievements Mean Brighter Future for Children — Shevchenko

Ukraine’s Andriy Shevchenko is one of more than 100 football greats serving as a FIFA charity ambassador. In an interview to SOS-Kinderhof International Shevchenko explains his decision to take part in the Children’s Villages project, speaks about the situation in his home Ukraine and the chances Ukraine and Germany have at the World Cup.

MosNews

Vladimir Putin’s State-of-the-Nation Address

Russian President Vladimir Putin used his annual state-of-the-nation address Wednesday, May 11, to warn that Russia’s population of 143 million was falling by an average of 700,000 each year. He has pledged cash bonuses to Russian women who give birth to two or more children. His speech also focused on the problems of the Russian Armed Forces.

GIDI WEITZ AND AMIR BEN-DAVID

Yediot Ahronot

Gazrprom’s Eye Fixed on Israel

Israel and Russia have started negotiations on contracts for the supply of natural gas and the construction of a pipeline to carry it. Who will profit from the billion-dollar deal? Gidi Weitz and Amir Ben-David at Yediot Ahronot, the Seven Days weekend magazine, search for a key to the puzzle.

Hundreds Rally for “Free Country” in Moscow on Russia Day

On June 11, Day of Russia, some 600 people gathered in Moscow centre for a rally entitled “Free country for free people”. The protesters, mostly young people, rallied against nationalism, mass media censorship, political arrests, army hazing and the so-called “Operation Successor” that kicked off ahead of nearing presidential elections.