[home page][map of the server][news of the server][forums][publications][Yabloko's Views]

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, April 23, 2003

DUMA DEPUTY LINKS RATIFICATION OF MOSCOW TREATY TO IRAQ SETTLEMENT

State Duma Defense Committee Deputy Chairman Alexei Arbatov (Yabloko) said on 22 April that the Duma's ratification process for the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty signed last May by Presidents George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin, will depend on the progress of postwar reconstruction in Iraq, RosBalt reported. Arbatov noted that the conflict over Iraq "has exposed differences in the two countries' approaches to solving key problems of international security and stability." "The results of the postwar settlement in Iraq -- whether they are positive or negative for Russia -- will determine how easily and in what time frame the treaty undergoes ratification in the Duma," Arbatov added. He said the treaty is of "symbolic importance" as an indicator of normal relations between the two countries and that the United States "has more of a stake in its ratification today than Russia." The Duma, which had planned to begin consideration of the pact in March, postponed discussion because of the start of the military operation. The Foreign Affairs Committee now plans to submit the treaty for ratification in mid-May.

 

See also:

Arms Contol

Situation Around Iraq

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, April 23, 2003

[home page][map of the server][news of the server][forums][publications][Yabloko's Views]

english@yabloko.ru
Project Director: Vyacheslav Erohin e-mail: admin@yabloko.ru Director: Olga Radayeva, e-mail: english@yabloko.ru
Administrator: Vlad Smirnov, e-mail: vladislav.smirnov@yabloko.ru