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NATO urges Russia to lift unilateral CFE moratorium

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  • NATO urges Russia to lift unilateral CFE moratorium

    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.
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