Russian Duma Leaders Criticize U.S. for Quitting ABM Treaty

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, December 14, 2001

Russian Duma Leaders Criticize U.S. for Quitting ABM Treaty

Leaders of Russian parliamentary groups on Thursday unanimously issued a strong condemnation of United States President George W. Bush's Wednesday announcement of the U.S. intention to withdraw from the 1972 Anti- Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty.

Commenting on the U.S. intention, Vladimir Lukin, State Duma vice speaker for the Yabloko faction, quoted the phrase of the 19th-century French statesman and diplomat Charles Maurice de Talleyrand: "It is worse than a crime, it is a blunder."

He stressed that Bush's decision was a mistake "both in terms of contents and time," because after the September 11 terrorist attacks, Russian-American relations had reached "a new, closer and deeper level." The U.S. administration took an unreasonable step in a dangerous direction, which would demote Russia-U.S. ties, he added.

"The United States used our great assistance in the anti- terrorism operation in Afghanistan, after which they announced their stance on the ABM. It is a sign and a bad one," Lukin, a former ambassador to the United States, told the press.

"In some respects, our interests coincide with the United States, and in others they differ. The difference should not be over-dramatized," he said.

Lukin said a possible abrupt change in the global strategic balance would not happen for at least 15 to 20 years. Russia worried that it had counted on closer cooperation with the U.S. and now would have to prove the decision was singular not systemic.

Another member of the Yabloko faction, Deputy Chairman of the Duma Defense Committee Alexei Arbatov said in a Thursday interview that consequences of the U.S. move will be very negative.

At the beginning of 2001, the Russian strategic rocket force " was demoted in status to a type of armed force and the program of strategic forces was re-worked," he noted. Consequently, the U.S. "lost interest in the talks with Russia on limiting strategic offensive armaments as well as strategic defense armaments."

Vyacheslav Volodin, head of the Fatherland-All Russia faction, was more critical, calling the U.S. "a superpower that is trying to impose its rules on the world."

He warned that such a U.S. stance may trigger a fresh arms race worldwide.

Gennady Raikov, head of the People's Deputy group, expressed deep regret about the U.S. stance. He told the press that this may encourage Russia to revise provisions of the currently effective Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty-I (START-I) and START-II.

At the same time, Raikov voiced hope that Russia and the U.S. will continue their talks on the issue. In his opinion, "Russian- American relations will not see any serious changes."

Deputy chairman of the Union of Right Forces faction Viktor Pokhmelkin was much harsher. He told the press that the U.S. stance will have a negative impact on Russian-U.S. relations, especially as it does not fit the framework of bilateral relations evolving after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

"The United States continues regarding other countries as junior partners. I am afraid this may lead to an arms buildup in Russia, to the great pleasure of our own hawks," Pokhmelkin said.

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