(Ebru News/AP) Russia's lower house of parliament voted unanimously today to suspend Moscow's participation in a key European arms control treaty, approving President Vladimir Putin's initiative in a widely expected show of defiance to the West.
In a 418-0 vote, lawmakers in the State Duma approved legislation under which Moscow would temporarily abandon its obligations under the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty, a pact that has become one of several issues straining Russia's relations with the United States and Europe.
The Duma is dominated by the Kremlin-controlled United Russia party, making approval a foregone conclusion. The legislation now goes to the upper house - where approval also is a virtual certainty - before it goes to Putin for his signature. It would take effect 12 December.
Putin first threatened to suspend participation in the treaty in April amid increasing Russian anger over US efforts to build a missile defense system in eastern Europe and growing Western influence in the former Soviet Union.
The 1990 treaty set limits on the deployment of conventional armaments by NATO and Warsaw Pact countries.
Putin complained in May that NATO countries were "filling eastern Europe with new weapons" and said Russia would have to respond.
The Foreign Ministry has said that under the moratorium, Russia will halt inspections and verifications of its military sites by NATO countries and will no longer limit the numbers of its conventional weapons.
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Russia Votes to Suspend Weapons Pact
07
Nov
2007
Nov
2007