Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Russian Duma endorses CFE suspension

Press TV News- Nov 7, 2007

The Russian Duma has voted unanimously to suspend a key European arms control treaty (CFE) limiting conventional forces in Europe.

In a 418-0 vote, on Wednesday, lawmakers in the state Duma - Russia's lower house of parliament - approved legislation under which Moscow would temporarily abandon its obligations under the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty.

The move will take effect on December 12, after final approval by the upper house of parliament and President Vladimir Putin.

The vote amounted to legislative confirmation of a decision to freeze Russian adherence to the pact, already announced by Putin in July.

The plan was announced amid increasing Russian anger over US efforts to build a missile defense system in Eastern Europe and growing Western influence in the former Soviet Union.

The 1990 CFE treaty limits the number of tanks, aircraft and other conventional weapons in Europe.

But Putin's decision to suspend participation is seen as being driven less by security concerns than by an increasingly confident Russia's desire to emphasize to the West that its interests cannot be ignored.

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