Lukin Defends Sale of Russian S-300 Missiles to Cyprus

Informatsionnoye Agentstvo Ekho Moskvy
January 7, 1997

"The United States assumes the right to issue advice to all and speak in the role of the world's policeman about whether the balance of force is or isn't being broken," Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Vladimir Lukin told Ekho Moskvy radio station. He was commenting on US reaction to Russia's decision to supply the Republic of Cyprus with S-300 missile batteries. The United States has expressed regret at the signing of the relevant contract between Russia and Cyprus since, in the opinion of the American side, it alters the balance of force and will complicate efforts to achieve a firm peace on the island.

According to Vladimir Lukin, the US reaction is "the [Americans'] private business--let them wag their tongues". "The government of Cyprus is asking us to supply it with arms," the head of the Duma committee stressed. "Troops have been deployed on the republic's territory under the pretext of defending a Turkish community which no one is attacking and the lawful government of the republic has been unable to solve this problem for some time now. It cannot be solved by intermediaries, be they from America or anywhere else." "The United States believe it can and must intervene in these affairs," Vladimir Lukin said. "Such episodes have occurred with Iran, China, and other countries. In all cases we politely sent the United States back to its own shores and we were right to do so. When the Unites States shares arms with anyone, be it Saudi Arabia, Israel or the countries of Latin America, it does not consult us as to whether or not any balance is being broken." Vladimir Lukin stressed that "the supplies to Cyprus are a traditional affair between the official government of the republic and the government of Russia" and that the latest decision "does not contravene the international obligations which Russia has taken upon itself."