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Russia scraps radar deal with Ukraine

By RIA Novosti

Moscow : Russia’s upper house of parliament voted Wednesday to cancel an agreement with Ukraine on early warning and space monitoring systems, citing inadequate technical support by Kiev for radar facilities.

Last Friday, the lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, voted to scrap the agreement. Federation Council Speaker Sergei Mironov said the decision was not politically motivated.

“There is no politics in our decision – only common sense, expediency and national security considerations,” he said.

Russian Deputy Defence Minister Nikolai Pankov said Russia would not lose its position in the region following the termination of the agreement with Ukraine.

Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement on leasing the Mukachevo and Sevastopol early warning stations to Russia in February 1997. The document stipulated that Russia would cover all operating costs, totalling $4 million per year, while Ukraine would be responsible for the maintenance of the facilities.

Pankov said previously Ukraine had practically stopped fulfilling its obligations under the agreement with a view to its subsequent integration into NATO.

Years ago, Russia launched a program for the development of Russian Space Forces, which included building and using early warning radars on its own territory.

Russia’s Space Forces Commander Col. Gen. Vladimir Popovkin said a new Voronezh-type radar in Lekhtusi, Leningrad Region, would go into operation later this year. Another Voronezh-type radar is being built in Armavir in southwest Russia and is expected to be put into service in 2009.