Monday, Mar 24, 2003
Russia protests spy plane flights
By Vladimir Radyuhin
MOSCOW MARCH 23. Russia has lodged formal protest with the United States over flights of American spy plane along Russia's southern borders. The Russian Foreign Ministry sent a letter of protest to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow on Saturday voicing concern over the flights described as intelligence activity "reminiscent of the Cold War." A U-2 spy plane flew 20 to 35 km from the Russian border with the neighbouring former Soviet republic of Georgia on Saturday, the Russian Defence Ministry said.
Two Russian fighter planes were scrambled to track the U.S. spy plane and prevent it from crossing the Russian border. The flights "provoke additional tension in a region that is sensitive for Russia's security interests," the Ministry said. "We regard this intelligence gathering all the more inappropriate in light of the current tense international situation arising out of the U.S. military action against Iraq. "
Russia shot down a U-2 spy plane over Siberia in the early 1960s. The U-2, which can fly at an altitude of 21 km is capable of gathering intelligence over an area of 600 km along its path.
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