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
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Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, April 23, 2003
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