"The missile defense system that is being built in the Czech Republic and Poland is anti-Russian whatever may be said and whatever words may be used to spruce up [the plans]," he said.

If the decision to deploy the missile defense elements is made, "Russia will take reply steps, including the deployment of Iskanders," Makarov said.

While in the past the problem of missile defense concerned only Russia and the United States, now it will be a problem for all European countries," he said.

Given the establishment of U.S. missile defense facilities the Russian General Staff is forced to review the composition of the force in Kaliningrad region, he said.

Since the beginning of the year Russia has been unilaterally withdrawing excessive arms stocks from its enclave on the Baltic, he said.

"Here is just one figure. There used to be 880 tanks in the region. We are withdrawing virtually the entire tank reserves to the [main] territory of the Russian Federation," Makarov said.

Due to the stance of Lithuania that did not permit the transportation of certain weapons across its territory the process will take much longer, he said.

"We are forced to transport by sea. Firstly, this is more costly, secondly, it draws out the withdrawal process over several years," the general said.

The possible deployment of Iskander missile systems in Kaliningrad region would be a reply measure, he said. "The ball is in the court of the opposite side," he said.

"If there is no third deployment area, we will have no need to deploy Iskander missiles," Makarov said.

(c) 2008 Daily News Bulletin; Moscow - English. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.

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