Russia Mulling Airbase Deployment in Belarus

General Vladimir Mikhailov, Russia's Air Force commander, said on 15 February during a visit to Kyrgyzstan that his country's military authorities are contemplating the deployment of an airbase in Belarus, RIA Novosti reported the same day. "We intend to have a base in Belarus as a standby option,” Mikhailov said. He did not say whether this possibility had been discussed with Belarusian authorities. (www.rian.ru, February 15)

-- 02/18/2006