Latvia Will Not Extend Accord on Russian Radar Station
Moscow Interfax 25 Feb 98
RIGA, Feb 25 (Interfax) -- Latvia's Foreign Minister Valdis Birkavs said Wednesday his ministry saw no chance of extending an agreement that allows Russia to keep an early warning missile radar station in Latvia beyond the deadline of August 31, 1998.
Nor did the Foreign Ministry consider it likely that the status of the radar, situated in Skrunda, 180 kilometers southwest of Riga, would be revised, Birkavs said.
His announcement came as a response to an appeal by the commander of the Russian strategic missile forces, Vladimir Yakovlev, who urged the Russian Foreign Ministry to try to extend the accord.
Meanwhile, Russia has nearly finished building a radar station in Baranovichi, Belarus, to monitor the air space west and northwest of Russia and replace the Skrunda facility.
"I have repeatedly called on countries friendly to us," to help Russia complete building the radar in Baranovichi, Birkavs said.
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