Post by Bozur on Nov 7, 2007 15:38:36 GMT -5
Russia's State Duma approves suspending European arms control treaty
By STEVE GUTTERMAN,AP / Posted: 2007-11-07 11:33:15
MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's lower house of parliament voted unanimously Wednesday to suspend Moscow's participation in a key European arms control treaty, approving President Vladimir Putin's initiative in a widely expected show of defiance to the West.
In a 418-0 vote, the State Duma approved legislation under which Moscow would temporarily abandon its obligations under the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty, a pact that has become one several issues straining Russia's relations with the United States and Europe.
The Duma is dominated by the Kremlin-controlled United Russia party, making approval a foregone conclusion. The legislation now goes to the upper house - where approval also is virtually certain - before it goes to Putin for his signature. It would take effect Dec. 12.
Putin first threatened to suspend participation in the treaty in April amid increasing Russian anger over U.S. efforts to build a missile defense system in eastern Europe and growing Western influence in the former Soviet Union.
The 1990 treaty set limits on the deployment of conventional armaments by NATO and Warsaw Pact countries. But the disintegration of communism and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 changed strategic balances, and a revised treaty was worked out in 1999.
Russia ratified the updated treaty in 2004, but the United States and other NATO members have refused to do so, demanding that Moscow fulfill obligations to withdraw its forces from Georgia and Moldova's separatist region of Trans-Dniester.
Russia claims the withdrawals are not a condition for ratification, and says continued adherence to the outdated limits of the original pact compromises its security.
Putin complained in May that NATO countries were "filling eastern Europe with new weapons" and said Russia must respond. But his decision to suspend participation is seen as driven less by security concerns than by an increasingly confident Russia's desire to emphasize to the West that its interests cannot be ignored.
NATO nations' refusal to ratify the updated treaty put Russia "in a foolish situation," ultranationalist lawmaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky said. "We're fulfilling (obligations) and decreasing (forces) - and they're laughing at us."
Konstantin Kosachev, head of the Duma's international affairs committee, said the suspension was "not an act of aggression" and was not aimed to scuttle the treaty, though Putin has said Russia could pull out altogether if its efforts bring no NATO response.
The Foreign Ministry has said that under the moratorium, Russia will halt inspections and verifications of its military sites by NATO countries and will no longer limit the numbers of its conventional weapons.
Russia's military chief of staff, Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky, said that "today we have no reason to quickly" strengthen forces in western Russia. However, he added, Russia must have the right "to reposition, deploy and create forces where needed to protect the interests and security of our country."
Analysts say Russia has no interest in a costly buildup of forces because it faces no real military threat from NATO and has no plans to launch an attack of its own.
NATO spokesman James Appathurai said the alliance would be worried by a military buildup in western Russia, saying that "to see large amounts of what is now treaty-limited equipment suddenly moving ... would be a concern to NATO countries."
Appathurai said NATO and its 26 members regretted the vote and are still seeking to convince Russia to change its mind.
"This treaty is very important for European security," he told reporters. "It's very important that Russia fulfills its obligations."
U.S. officials have said Russia's loudly voiced security concerns are overblown.
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Kramer said last week that the United States and its allies "do not agree that those stated concerns, which relate primarily to NATO enlargement and its consequences, constitute a sufficient basis to suspend implementation of this major treaty."
Calling the treaty "a cornerstone of European security," he said that if Russia commits to the withdrawals from Moldova and Georgia, some NATO nations are willing to begin the ratification process before the pullouts are complete.
Russian officials said that was not enough to prompt them to reconsider the suspension.
By STEVE GUTTERMAN,AP / Posted: 2007-11-07 11:33:15
MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's lower house of parliament voted unanimously Wednesday to suspend Moscow's participation in a key European arms control treaty, approving President Vladimir Putin's initiative in a widely expected show of defiance to the West.
In a 418-0 vote, the State Duma approved legislation under which Moscow would temporarily abandon its obligations under the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty, a pact that has become one several issues straining Russia's relations with the United States and Europe.
The Duma is dominated by the Kremlin-controlled United Russia party, making approval a foregone conclusion. The legislation now goes to the upper house - where approval also is virtually certain - before it goes to Putin for his signature. It would take effect Dec. 12.
Putin first threatened to suspend participation in the treaty in April amid increasing Russian anger over U.S. efforts to build a missile defense system in eastern Europe and growing Western influence in the former Soviet Union.
The 1990 treaty set limits on the deployment of conventional armaments by NATO and Warsaw Pact countries. But the disintegration of communism and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 changed strategic balances, and a revised treaty was worked out in 1999.
Russia ratified the updated treaty in 2004, but the United States and other NATO members have refused to do so, demanding that Moscow fulfill obligations to withdraw its forces from Georgia and Moldova's separatist region of Trans-Dniester.
Russia claims the withdrawals are not a condition for ratification, and says continued adherence to the outdated limits of the original pact compromises its security.
Putin complained in May that NATO countries were "filling eastern Europe with new weapons" and said Russia must respond. But his decision to suspend participation is seen as driven less by security concerns than by an increasingly confident Russia's desire to emphasize to the West that its interests cannot be ignored.
NATO nations' refusal to ratify the updated treaty put Russia "in a foolish situation," ultranationalist lawmaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky said. "We're fulfilling (obligations) and decreasing (forces) - and they're laughing at us."
Konstantin Kosachev, head of the Duma's international affairs committee, said the suspension was "not an act of aggression" and was not aimed to scuttle the treaty, though Putin has said Russia could pull out altogether if its efforts bring no NATO response.
The Foreign Ministry has said that under the moratorium, Russia will halt inspections and verifications of its military sites by NATO countries and will no longer limit the numbers of its conventional weapons.
Russia's military chief of staff, Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky, said that "today we have no reason to quickly" strengthen forces in western Russia. However, he added, Russia must have the right "to reposition, deploy and create forces where needed to protect the interests and security of our country."
Analysts say Russia has no interest in a costly buildup of forces because it faces no real military threat from NATO and has no plans to launch an attack of its own.
NATO spokesman James Appathurai said the alliance would be worried by a military buildup in western Russia, saying that "to see large amounts of what is now treaty-limited equipment suddenly moving ... would be a concern to NATO countries."
Appathurai said NATO and its 26 members regretted the vote and are still seeking to convince Russia to change its mind.
"This treaty is very important for European security," he told reporters. "It's very important that Russia fulfills its obligations."
U.S. officials have said Russia's loudly voiced security concerns are overblown.
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Kramer said last week that the United States and its allies "do not agree that those stated concerns, which relate primarily to NATO enlargement and its consequences, constitute a sufficient basis to suspend implementation of this major treaty."
Calling the treaty "a cornerstone of European security," he said that if Russia commits to the withdrawals from Moldova and Georgia, some NATO nations are willing to begin the ratification process before the pullouts are complete.
Russian officials said that was not enough to prompt them to reconsider the suspension.