Rocket concerns U.S.

Press, 10 January 1983, Page 8

Rocket concerns U.S.

NZPA Washington The United States had informed the Soviet Union’of its “official concern” over the construction in Syria of sites for Soviet 5.A.M.5 “Gammon” anti-aircraft missiles, the ‘New York Times” said yesterday in a report quoting official sources. Lawrence Eagleburger, Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs, had relayed Washington’s feelings to the Soviet Ambassador in Washington, Mr Anatoly Dobrynin,

in a meeting at the State Department. A department spokesman yesterday confirmed the meeting, but said that it was part of usual talks between the United States and the Soviet Union, and refused comment on the “Times” report. The Administration officials quoted by the paper said that' American and Israeli Intelligence experts had identified two construction sites in Syria built for S,A.M.Ss, which have a 240 km range.

The report said that the new missiles could “not only protect Syrian air space but also reach into the Mediterranean to threaten American carrier aircraft and pose threats to Israeli planes over Israel and Lebanon and to Jordanian aircraft in Jordan.” The Administration feared that if the S.A.M.Ss were installed, “Soviet troops would be introduced into Syria to man them," the report said. S.A.M.Ss have been in Soviet service for 20 years.