The State Duma Defense Committee on Thursday advised the lower house of the Russian parliament to ratify a new strategic arms reduction deal with the U.S.
The treaty was signed on April 8 in Prague, replacing the START 1 treaty that expired in December 2009. The document was submitted to the U.S. Senate on May 13 and to the State Duma on May 28. The Russian and U.S. presidents have agreed that the ratification processes should be simultaneous.
Committee chairman Viktor Zavarzin said its recommendation was based on a thorough analysis of the document.
He said that with the new treaty Russia would still be able "to reliably ensure its security."
The new pact stipulates that the number of nuclear warheads is to be reduced to 1,550 on each side, while the number of deployed and non-deployed delivery vehicles must not exceed 800 on either side.
"There are no and there can be no winners and losers here. Both parties have benefited, as has international security and stability in general," he said.
Zavarzin stressed that the deal "ensures an acceptable level of nuclear deterrence" for Russia.
His remarks seem however to be out of tune with those by the Duma international affairs committee head, who said there would be no rush in the house over the ratification.
Konstantin Kosachyov said on Tuesday Russian MPs wanted to understand how ratification hearings were proceeding in the U.S. Senate and that his committee "will take a timeout and will not take any action until it becomes clear what is happening in the U.S. Senate."
He said, however, there was no serious reason for not ratifying the document since it "does not grant any advantage to either party."
MOSCOW, July 8 (RIA Novosti)
