MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/: Russia may look at denouncing the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) if the United States ignores its message to reconsider the way it is implemented, a Russian lawmaker told TASS on Tuesday.
"If the United States doesn’t respond to our message to establish order in New START’s implementation within two or three years, then the question will arise about what to do with this treaty. As a matter of fact, the treaty will cease to exist if the United States demonstrates no reciprocal desire to ensure its further implementation. Then, the issue of its denunciation in principle may be raised. But so far, the situation is principally different," said Dmitry Novikov, first deputy chairman of the international committee of Russia’s State Duma, or lower parliament house.
He recalled that in his State of the Nation Address Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia wants to keep the treaty in place and the issue of its implementation needs to be clarified.
"To launch the process of negotiations something pushing the sides toward such a negotiating process is needed. And the New START’s suspension is a signal to the United States that if you want to preserve the treaty, let us clearly articulate how we understand it, how we are going to implement it and how we will dovetail global security parties," he said.
In his State of the Nation Address delivered earlier on Tuesday, Putin announced that Russia is suspending its participation in the New START treaty but is not withdrawing from it.
