The State Duma passed a bill on the ratification of the START treaty
in its second reading on Friday, adding the conditions of the Russian
party on the execution of the agreement, RIA Novosti reports.
The amendments to the ratification law discuss the conditions for the
withdrawal of Russia from the contract, stabilize the relationship
between the START and ABM treaties, as well as introduce a
presidential duty to adopt a program for the strategic nuclear forces
of Russia. The Government will annually report to the State Duma on
the implementation of the treaty, as well as on the prospects of
development of the strategic nuclear complex in Russia.
349 members voted in support of the bill, 57 were against and two abstained.
The START-3 Treaty was signed by the Russian and US presidents, Dmitry
Medvedev and Barack Obama, in Prague last April. After ratification by
the US Senate, ratification of the document by the both houses of the
Russian parliament is required for the document to come into force.
