In an article on April 1 Dutch Defense Minister Jeanine
Hennis-Plasschaert claimed that Russian bombers systematically violated the
airspace of the Netherlands
MOSCOW, April 15. /TASS/. Russia’s Defense Ministry has
rejected the statements made by Dutch Defense Minister Jeanine
Hennis-Plasschaert two weeks ago in an interview with the national daily NRC
Handelsblat.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Jeanine
Hennis-Plasschaert claimed in an article on April 1 that Russian bombers
systematically violated the airspace of the Netherlands and also urged to
protest against the passage of Russian naval ships through the exclusive
economic zone of the Netherlands and against Russian military threats to Baltic
states.
As Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said,
"unfounded, unsubstantiated statements that have unfortunately become a
visiting card of some Western politicians again cause bewilderment."
"First of all, we state officially that there were
no violations of the Dutch airspace by the aircraft of the Russian Aerospace
Force. Secondly, the stay of Russian ships in the exclusive economic zone of a
particular state, including the Netherlands, takes place in full compliance
with international law provisions, namely, the UN Law of the Sea Convention of
1982. Thirdly, which specific military threat to the Baltic states is
meant?" he said.
According to Antonov, in her article the Dutch defense
minister referred to her rich experience of work in Riga where, as she put it,
she had had the possibility to see with her own eyes the existence of these
threats.
"However, Mrs. Hennis-Plasschaert doesn’t specify
in her article what exactly terrible she saw in those years in Latvia,"
the Russian deputy defense minister said.
"In this connection, only one thing has to be
noted: such untrue and insulting pronouncements by the Dutch politician
addressed to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation testify to the
deliberate anti-Russian campaign carried out by the current Dutch
leadership," Antonov said.
Source: ITAR-TASS 17-04-2016
