My profile:
MOSCOW () -- A Foreign Ministry official Monday passed the blame for last week's flap over a NASA research rocket to the defense establishment, excusing his ministry from responsibility for the international incident.
Yury Fokin insisted the Defense Ministry had been informed of Wednesday's launch from Norway in advance. A spokesman for Fokin's office confirmed his comments, published by Interfax.
Fokin, who heads the Foreign Ministry's Second European Department, said a prior announcement had been relayed twice to the Defense Ministry, first Dec. 28 and again Dec. 30.
"There must be no ill will toward the Norwegian side, which fulfilled all the usual procedures for such situations," Fokin said. "This was a misunderstanding, which should not happen again."
The Defense Ministry would not comment Monday
Ministry Warned, Twice
31 January 1995
|
|
Tweet |
|
This article has no comments. Be the first to leave a comment |
Discussion
Comments
To post comments you must be registered
Comments via Facebook
Most Read
1.
Prominent Businessman Shot Near FSB Headquarters
A prominent business leader was shot and wounded by three masked men in the heart of Moscow on Friday — just steps away from FSB headquarters.
2.
Eduard Khil, Soviet Crooner and 'Trololo Man,' Dies at 77
People's Artist of Russia Eduard Khil, known more recently as the "Trololo Man," passed away in the early hours of Monday morning, leaving behind a legacy spanning generations.
3.
Weak Ruble Bad for Some, But Not All
The Central Bank has begun large-scale intervention in currency markets as steadily slumping oil prices stoked the plunge of the ruble to levels not seen in three years.
4.
Putin Denies Russian Role in Syrian Violence
Under mounting international pressure, President Putin denied that Moscow is fueling bloodshed in Syria with arms exports and that Russia unilaterally supports the Assad regime.
5.
New Powers That Be
Take a look at the new government with this chart showing the composition of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's new Cabinet.
6.
BP Confirms Effort to Sell its TNK-BP Stake
BP has agreed to consider quitting its Russian joint venture in a move that could strip the British company of almost a third of its output and reverse the biggest investment in the Russian oil industry.
7.
Russia's Role in the Houla Massacre
The Syrian problem has become a vicious vortex sucking the Russian ship downward into its maw.
8.
Russians Push 'Land Bridge,' New Line to Vienna
A new wide-gauge railway line to Vienna could be a key part of Russian plans to build a Eurasian “land bridge” between China and Europe.
9.
Putin Awards Large Families in Kremlin Palace
President Vladimir Putin awarded parents of large families at a ceremony in a luxurious Kremlin palace over the weekend, celebrating families with as many as 13 children.
<br />
<br />
10.
Putin: Visa Deal Key for EU-Russia Relations
A true partnership with the European Union is only possible after scrapping visa barriers, President Vladimir Putin told the leaders of the 27-member bloc Monday.
1.
City Mistakenly Plants Marijuana Field Instead of Lawn
After the city spread soil containing "grass" seeds around the Brateyevo metro station, a field of marijuana plants sprouted up instead of a lawn.
2.
McFaul Faces Kremlin Scorn Once Again
The Foreign Ministry assailed U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul for comments the ministry said went "far beyond the bounds of diplomatic etiquette."
3.
Sweden Wins Eurovision; Grannies Take Second
Sweden’s Loreen won the Eurovision Song Contest in Azerbaijan on Sunday before an international TV audience of 100 million, days after angering Azeri authorities by meeting rights activists critical of the host country’s human rights record.
4.
Prominent Businessman Shot Near FSB Headquarters
A prominent business leader was shot and wounded by three masked men in the heart of Moscow on Friday — just steps away from FSB headquarters.
5.
Eduard Khil, Soviet Crooner and 'Trololo Man,' Dies at 77
People's Artist of Russia Eduard Khil, known more recently as the "Trololo Man," passed away in the early hours of Monday morning, leaving behind a legacy spanning generations.
6.
Ukraine in Uproar Over Status of Russian Language
Ukraine's ruling party has triggered violent protests with a move to upgrade the official role of Russian, a sensitive issue opponents say will split the country.
7.
150 Detained at Anti-Kremlin Rallies
About 150 people were detained Sunday as scores of people gathered for a series of anti-government demonstrations in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
8.
Vkontakte Founder Tosses 5,000-Ruble Notes Out Window
<p>The founder of the social networking site Vkontakte celebrated St. Petersburg’s 309th anniversary over the weekend by tossing paper airplanes carrying 5,000-ruble notes out a building window.</p>
9.
Putin's Final Act
Russians are usually patient and slow to rebel, but once they have turned on their leader, they don't stop until he is out.
10.
U.S.-Russian 3-Year Multientry Visa Bill to Go to Duma
After months of delays, the government has finalized a much-touted visa agreement with the United States and drafted the corresponding bill.
1.
Hundreds of Arrests Set Grim Backdrop for Victory Day Celebrations
As Moscow gears up to celebrate its victory in World War II, 67 years ago Wednesday, the shadow of political conflict shrouds the capital as hundreds of arrests cloud Victory Day festivities.
2.
City Mistakenly Plants Marijuana Field Instead of Lawn
After the city spread soil containing "grass" seeds around the Brateyevo metro station, a field of marijuana plants sprouted up instead of a lawn.
3.
Russian Satellite Takes Highest-Ever Resolution Picture of Earth
A stunning 121-megapixel snapshot of the Earth was taken by a Russian weather satellite in what is thought to be the highest resolution picture of the planet ever taken from space.
4.
Bodies, No Survivors Spotted at Superjet Crash
Search and rescue helicopters and volunteers struggling through thick forest and mountainous terrain spotted bodies but no survivors on the Indonesian mountainside where a Sukhoi Superjet 100 crashed by the time darkness forced an end to the search Thursday night.
5.
Tabloid: Superjet Downed by U.S. Industrial Sabotage
A tabloid claims that Russian intelligence agencies are investigating the possibility that the U.S. military may have brought down the Sukhoi Superjet that crashed in Indonesia.
6.
Mysterious Photos Reveal an Unseen WWII
After the end of World War II, Paul Sadler returned home to Chicago with three German books and a photo album from the Dachau concentration camp.
7.
Furniture Magnate Shot Dead in Mercedes in Moscow Region
A 46-year-old furniture magnate was killed with six gunshot wounds to the head and chest early Sunday as he arrived in his Mercedes at his home in the Moscow region.
8.
Vladivostok Bridge Climbers Fined 300 Rubles Each
Three thrill-seekers who climbed two Vladivostok bridges earlier this week and took photos from the top were fined 300 rubles ($10) each for trespassing.
9.
New Cabinet Has Familiar Cast of Characters
President Vladimir Putin on Monday announced the makeup of the new Cabinet answering to Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, with three-fourths of the members having been replaced.
10.
Superjet Missing in Indonesia With 50 on Board
A dark cloud was cast Wednesday on the revival of Russia’s aviation industry when a Sukhoi-built Superjet 100 with 50 people on board disappeared from the radar screens of Indonesian flight controllers.
