MOSCOW, December 7. /TASS/. Russia advocates the preservation of the Treaty on missiles and medium-range missiles with the United States, but this requires a more responsible approach of Washington. This was stated by Deputy Minister of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Ryabkov in an interview to the newspaper “Kommersant”.
“We are for the preservation of the Treaty, but this requires a more responsible approach on the part of the United States,” he said. As pointed out Ryabkov, “they [USA] say that in the interests of removing the problems around the Treaty and our bilateral dialogue should not just continue and make more specific”.
The diplomat noted that the Russian side presented a detailed USA and its positions on issues about which they were concerned. “I believe that the decisions that will take American side on this issue will take into account in full our position, and hope that these decisions will be in favor of keeping the contract and not further delay,” added the Russian diplomat.
Ryabkov added that the meeting of the control Commission for the implementation of the INF real soon. “We on this issue work, he said. – Appropriate public announcement will be made closer to the date of this possible event.”
“She’s very real in the near future,” the diplomat added.
Ryabkov also said that the steps the United States for the actual scrapping of the INF Treaty will result in instant and mirror response.
“If the Americans will go to the steps, meaning the actual breaking of the contract, our response will be, as the President said Vladimir Putin, “instant and mirror”, – said the Deputy head of the foreign Ministry.
While Ryabkov indicated that “on specific responses now say is not just premature and counterproductive.” “This would be grist to the mill of those who are just looking for excuses and reasons to accuse Russia of undermining the regime of arms control”, – he added.
The previous meeting of the control Commission under the INF Treaty took place on November 15-16, 2016 in Geneva. Prior to that meeting have not been held since 2000. The strategic security issues are also discussed at the meeting Ryabkov and U.S. Deputy Secretary of state Thomas Shannon.
The controversy surrounding INF Treaty
First U.S. accused Russia of violating the INF Treaty in July 2014. Then Washington has repeatedly reiterated that statement, which Moscow has expressed disagreement, noting that the statements of the American side no specifics. Russia puts U.S. counter-claim for the implementation of the INF Treaty.
The agreement was signed on 8 December 1987 in Washington, D.C.; entered into force June 1, 1988. In 1992, in connection with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Treaty has acquired a multilateral character: its members, besides the US and Russia were Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine (before the destruction of the rockets of the respective class). Under the INF Treaty fall within the deployed and non-deployed missiles are smaller (500 to 1 thousand km) and medium range (from 1 thousand to 5.5 thousand km) land-based. Only the Soviet Union destroyed 1 thousand 846 missiles, USA – 846.
