PanARMENIAN.Net
NATO urges Russia to lift unilateral CFE moratorium
29.03.2008 14:42 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ NATO has issued a statement urging
Russia to consider United States proposals on the CFE
arms reduction treaty, and warning that Moscow’s
moratorium on the pact could undermine European
security.
Russia imposed a unilateral moratorium on the
Conventional Forces in Europe treaty in December 2007,
amid concerns over U.S. plans to deploy a missile
shield in Central Europe and NATO’s ongoing expansion.
Moscow has said it will resume its participation if
NATO countries ratify the document.
The NATO statement released on Friday said: "We urge
the Russian Federation to end its `suspension’, and to
work with us to reach agreement on the basis of the
parallel actions package so we can together preserve
the benefits of this landmark regime."
The package on measures to allay Russia’s concerns on
the treaty was proposed by Washington in fall last
year, and supported by all other NATO members.
"All Allies are committed to this far-reaching
package, which includes resolution of Russia’s
commitments related to the Republic of Moldova and
Georgia, and are ready to join with Russia in its
implementation," the statement said.
The trans-Atlantic military alliance earlier said its
member nations would not ratify the adapted CFE until
after Russia withdraws its military bases from
ex-Soviet republics Georgia and Moldova.
"Russia’s `suspension’ risks eroding the integrity of
the CFE regime and undermines the cooperative approach
to security which has been a core of the NATO-Russia
relationship and European security for nearly two
decades," NATO said.
The Russian and U.S. leaders are set to discuss the
CFE treaty along with controversial U.S. plans to
deploy missile defense elements in Poland and the
Czech Republic when they meet in Romania and Sochi
next month.
George W. Bush said on Wednesday he had accepted
Vladimir Putin’s invitation to visit his holiday
residence in Sochi on the Black Sea on April 6 after
the April 2-4 NATO summit in Romania, RIA Novosti
reports.