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Russia says US approach to nuclear talks 'disappointing': Interfax Moscow (AFP) Feb 3, 2008 Russia is disappointed by Washington's approach to talks on renewing the START I arms treaty, which expires next year, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak said in an interview published on Sunday. "Today the situation is disappointing. Our colleagues have a different view of the task at hand," Kislyak was quoted by the Russian news agency Interfax as saying when asked about consultations with the United States on renewing the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). START I was drawn up by the United States and the Soviet Union to limit each side's intercontinental nuclear arsenals and was ratified in 1994 after modifications to take account of the Soviet collapse. It has a 15-year lifespan and so expires in December next year, although there is an option to renew. Kislyak said Moscow wanted to take all "useful elements" from the treaty serving both sides' interests and reach a new accord that would "maintain reliability, stability and predictability in the strategic sphere." The US side set more store by another strategic weapons treaty, the 2002 Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT), he said. In contrast, "at the moment, we're more worried about the future, namely what will happen after 2009 in our relations with the United States in the strategic sphere," he said. Russia and the United States have been at loggerheads over US plans to extend a missile defence system to the Czech Republic and Poland. Washington says the plans are directed at "rogue states" such as Iran but Moscow says they threaten Russia's security. Russia last year abandoned the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty that set limits on troop levels on the continent. President Vladimir Putin has also threatened to abandon the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, which eliminated Russian and US shorter and medium range nuclear missiles. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
A New Nuclear Weapons Doctrine 2008 Part Two Moscow (UPI) Jan 31, 2008 If the Kremlin's new military doctrine endorses the General Staff's nuclear ideas, Russia will have new armed forces, with all the ensuing consequences. (United Press International's "Outside View" commentaries are written by outside contributors who specialize in a variety of important issues. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of United Press International. In the interests of creating an open forum, original submissions are invited) |
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