07-14-2007, 12:56 PM
MOSCOW, July 14 ââ¬â President Vladimir V. Putin formally notified NATO governments today that Russia will suspend its obligations under the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, a cold war-era arms limitation agreement, in response to American plans to deploy a missile shield in Eastern Europe.
The decision ratcheted up tensions over the plans for a missile shield, which Russia opposes, but also reflected an escalating trend of anti-Americanism and deep suspicion toward the West in Russiaââ¬â¢s domestic politics ahead of presidential elections here next March.
Russiaââ¬â¢s suspension will take effect in 150 days, according to a copy of the presidentââ¬â¢s decree posted on a Kremlin Web site, leaving open the possibility of further negotiation on the 1990 treaty, which resulted in a huge wave of disarmament along the former East-West divide in Europe.
Despite a Foreign Ministry statement that from now on, Russia would reject any limitations on redeploying heavy weaponry on its Western border, the Kremlinââ¬â¢s move is not expected to radically transform the security situation on the continent. But the decision is a strong indicator that the smiles and warm embraces between Presidents Bush and Putin just a few weekends ago at what was termed the ââ¬Ålobster summitââ¬Â in Maine did little to soften the Kremlin, in particular its pique over proposals to build two American missile defense bases in the former Soviet satellite states of Poland and the Czech Republic.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/14/world/...ref=slogin
The decision ratcheted up tensions over the plans for a missile shield, which Russia opposes, but also reflected an escalating trend of anti-Americanism and deep suspicion toward the West in Russiaââ¬â¢s domestic politics ahead of presidential elections here next March.
Russiaââ¬â¢s suspension will take effect in 150 days, according to a copy of the presidentââ¬â¢s decree posted on a Kremlin Web site, leaving open the possibility of further negotiation on the 1990 treaty, which resulted in a huge wave of disarmament along the former East-West divide in Europe.
Despite a Foreign Ministry statement that from now on, Russia would reject any limitations on redeploying heavy weaponry on its Western border, the Kremlinââ¬â¢s move is not expected to radically transform the security situation on the continent. But the decision is a strong indicator that the smiles and warm embraces between Presidents Bush and Putin just a few weekends ago at what was termed the ââ¬Ålobster summitââ¬Â in Maine did little to soften the Kremlin, in particular its pique over proposals to build two American missile defense bases in the former Soviet satellite states of Poland and the Czech Republic.
...
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/14/world/...ref=slogin