Russia warns of withdrawing from CFE treaty

Moscow, July 16 (UNI) Chairman of the State Duma (lower house of Russian Parliament) International Affairs Committee, Konstantin Kosachyov today warned that Russia will completely withdraw from the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty, if NATO members failed to ratify it within five months.

''After our NATO partners are formally notified of the Russian President's decree suspending our participation in the CFE treaty, they will have 150 days to decide whether or not to ratify the revised treaty of 1999,'' Mr Kosachyov said in an interview to Interfax news agency.

He said currently the CFE treaty was neither interesting nor efficient for Russia.

''This document no longer profits Russia anything,'' he said, pointing out that the initial version of the treaty was no longer efficient, while the revised document of 1999 was not ratified by most states.

''The adapted treaty did not enter into force through NATO countries' fault. Russia has just stated it now,'' Mr Kosachev said, stressing that Russia was ''not responsible for the failure of that construction.'' Mr Kosachev said by suspending its participation in a key pact limiting military forces in Europe, Russia gives its partners an opportunity to perceive the situation.

''If we see no sobering in 150 days, there will be certain consequences for our relations,'' he noted, adding ''possibilities to make mutual inspections will be sizably reduced.'' Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Saturday to suspend Russia's participation in the CFE treaty of the Cold War-era and the related agreements.

Under the decree, Russia suspends its participation in the treaty for 150 days ''in connection with extraordinary circumstances affecting Russia's security and demanding immediate measures.'' UNI