| MOSCOW, April 16, 2003. According to Vladimir
Lukin, Deputy Speaker of the State Duma, Russia may ratify the
Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty in early May. Lukin made this
forecast today at a press conference "Russian foreign policy
priorities after the war in Iraq." He pointed out to journalists
that President Putin called on parliament to ratify the treaty.
The Deputy Speaker of the Duma also said that if it delays the
ratification, "Russia will merely punish itself." The
treaty will, above all, limit US forces, which are considerably
stronger than Russia's, explained Lukin. He emphasized that Russia
had insisted on a written form of the form, whereas the US intended
to "confirm the agreement with a handshake."
See also:
Arms
Control
|
