Russian State Duma adopts draft treaty on strategic arms reduction in first reading

The State Duma on Friday passed the first reading of a bill on
ratification of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), Interfax
reports. The second reading of the bill on ratification is scheduled
for January.START was ratified by the U.S. Senate and is currently unde
discussion in the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. The
Defense Minister of Russian, Anatoly Serdyukov, announced that the
treaty will not affect plans to commission the Bulava missile. Neither
does the document force Russia to reduce its strategic offensive arms.

He noted that any further steps to reduce strategic and non-strategic
weapons can be undertaken only with the unconditional implementation
of the treaty on strategic offensive arms by all parties.

Moscow considers unacceptable the fact that START does not cover
strategic non-nuclear arms, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
said.

Lavrov also stressed the need to ratify the document. “If the Duma
fails to do so, it will tarnish the reputation of Russia,” he said.