Russia votes to suspend arms treaty

Russia votes to suspend arms treaty
07/11/2007 - 09:24:45

Russia's lower house of parliament voted unanimously today to suspend Moscow's participation in a key European arms control treaty.

It approved President Vladimir Putin's initiative in a widely expected show of defiance to the West.

In a 418-0 vote, members of the State Duma approved legislation under which Moscow would temporarily abandon its obligations under the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty, a 1990 pact that has become one of several issues straining Russia's relations with the US and Europe.

The CFE treaty limits the number of tanks, aircraft and other conventional weapons in Europe.

Mr Putin announced plans to suspend participation in the CFE treaty in July, amid increasing Russian anger over US efforts to build a missile defence system in eastern Europe and growing Western influence in the former Soviet Union.

The Duma is dominated by the Kremlin-controlled United Russia party, making approval a foregone conclusion.

The legislation still needs approval in the upper house, which is also a virtual certainty, before it goes to Mr Putin for his signature. It would take effect on December 12.

Mr Putin's decision to suspend participation is seen as being driven less by security concerns than by an increasingly confident Russia's desire to emphasise to the West that its interests cannot be ignored.

Source: http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/mhmhojeyidsn/