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NATO regrets Russian treaty freeze
 BRUSSELS - NATO expressed deep regret Wednesday that Russia had suspended a key Soviet-era arms pact, but underlined that the military alliance would not take any retaliatory action. NATO allies deeply regret that the Russian Federation has proceeded with its intention to unilaterally suspend implementation of CFE Treaty obligations as of 12 December 2007, a statement said.Russias foreign ministry announced that participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty was suspended from midnight in Moscow (2100 GMT Tuesday). Signed in 1990 and modified in 1999, the CFE places precise limits on the stationing of troops and heavy weapons from the Atlantic coast to Russias Ural mountainsa mammoth agreement that helped resolve the Cold War standoff. In the statement, NATO said the 26 member nations expressed willingness to resolve differences with Russia over the treaty and said that they planned to continue, for the moment, to abide by it. They have therefore chosen not to respond in kind at this stage to the Russian Federations political decision to suspend its legal obligations and NATO allies will continue to meet theirs, without prejudice to any future action they might take, the statement said. Posted by: Steve White 2007-12-13 |
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