US opposes Russian missile sale to Syria: Assad to visit Moscow on 24th
WASHINGTON, Jan 12: The United States on Wednesday warned Russia against selling missiles to Syria amid reports that Moscow was ready to provide Damascus with a sophisticated weapon that could hit any target in Israel.
The Russian media carried reports of the planned sale as Syrian President Bashar al Assad prepared to pay a historic visit to Russia on Jan 24 for talks with President Vladimir Putin.
The press reports said Israel was furious at the prospect of Syria obtaining the missile, an updated version of the Scud used by Iraq in the 1991 war, that could strike almost anywhere in the Jewish state.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Washington could consider sanctions against Moscow if it went through with reported plans to sell Syria its SS-26 Iskander missile.
He made his remarks just before Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov was to sit down for talks here with Secretary of State Colin Powell, but could not say whether the topic would be raised.
"The US policy on this is very clear," Mr Boucher said. "We're against the sale of weaponry to Syria, against the sale of lethal military equipment to Syria, which is a state sponsor of terrorism."
He said the United States was aware of reports a deal was brewing and "we think those kinds of sales are not appropriate. ... The Russians know about this policy. They know about our views".
Asked what action the United States would envision against Moscow if the deal went through, Mr Boucher said: "There are potential sanctions under US law. But that would have to be looked at, if and when, such a sale should occur."
A senior US official said Washington had already made clear to the Russians its disapproval of missile sales to Syria, although it was not clear if the latest reported deal was discussed.
"It's a policy that they (the Russians) know about," the official said. "They are quite clear on both the policy and the law that we have." The official said the Foreign Authorization Act allows action against "people who sell lethal equipment to state sponsors of terrorism, to prevent them from various interaction with the United States".
Israeli public radio reported that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had already consulted Washington on the rapid heightening of tension in its relations with Russia. The report said that the Russia brief was now being managed personally by Sharon, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz.
Russia's Kommersant business daily quoted unnamed sources as saying that Moscow was ready to sell its latest-generation Iskander missile to Damascus, although there has been no official confirmation of this from defence officials.
It was first tested by Russia in 1996, has a range of just under 300 kilometres, and reportedly can easily overcome existing air defence systems. Each missile has two 480-kilogram warheads that in tests hit targets with an accuracy of 20 metres.
The missile has no Nato equivalent. It is extremely effective because its launch pad is mobile and the missile can be guided through bad weather by satellite or plane radar, according to the Federation of American Scientists arms watchdog group.
Kommersant reported that Damascus asked Moscow to sell it 18 such missiles two years ago. The Russians were particularly eager to comply because the cash-strapped military was about to scrap its development when the Syrian customer appeared.
Kommersant said Moscow told Damascus in October that testing on the missile was completed and last week received confirmation from Syria that it was interested not only in the Iskander but also two other high-precision armaments. -AFP
