From: Bill Howard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> R Subject: Russia Rules Out Participation in US Strikes [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK] Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- [Via Communist Internet... http://www.egroups.com/group/Communist-Internet ] [Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ] . .Russia Rules Out Participation in US Strikes. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov on Monday ruled out Russia's participation in a possible US-led military operation against international terrorists. "That is absolutely impossible. It is out of the question," Ivanov told reporters here. Ivanov said a senior Pentagon delegation will come to Moscow for discussion of possible military action against the Afghan Taliban movement late next week. He also said Russia had been supplying Afghanistan's Northern Alliance, which is fighting against the Taliban, with weapons "for the past few years." "Russia has not acted alone on those lines," he said. "Iran and India have also been helping us," he added. Ivanov said the Northern Alliance leadership asked him for weapons and humanitarian help for fears that refugees may flood territory under their control. The minister insisted the international community also give humanitarian aid to the Northern Alliance. Commenting on President Vladimir Putin's pledge to offer airspace for the delivery of humanitarian relief to the war site, Ivanov said armaments must not be on any transit aircraft, whether it is military or civilian. Russian Foreign Ministry said on the same day that it is considering evacuating its diplomatic missions in Pakistan, members of their families and other Russians permanently living in this country if the situation there deteriorates. The ministry "maintains constant contact with the Russian embassy in Islamabad and the consulate general in Karachi. It is taking a set of measures to ensure the security of Russian citizens," a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday in connection with possible U.S. strikes against neighboring Afghanistan. **** _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________ ----------
