17 June 2004 12:30
Russian deputy speaker calls for ratifying treaty on armed forces in Europe
Moscow, 17 June: Russia is interested in beginning the ratification of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in
Europe as soon as possible, the first deputy speaker of the Russian State Duma [lower house] and head of the permanent
delegation at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Lyubov Sliska, said today at a joint meeting of the assembly committees
and the permanent Duma delegation to the NATO assembly.
Russia cannot but be concerned about the fact that NATO enlargement took place without taking into account the
treaty, which is a basic element of maintaining stability in Europe and means of arms control, Sliska noted. "We do
not see any alternative to putting the adapted treaty into force and are convinced that a political approach should be
applied to such a major issue in relations between Russia and NATO," she said.
The commitment of the Baltic states to accede to the treaty and before that to do nothing that contradicts its
provisions "creates a good foundation for continuing work in this direction", Sliska said. "We are
counting on cooperation with our colleagues from European parliaments to begin the ratification process as soon as
possible," she noted. The ratification of the treaty on the earliest date possible will facilitate the
strengthening of cooperation mechanisms when dealing with modern challenges, primarily terrorism, Sliska said.
[ITAR-TASS news agency] |
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