Russia Saturday hailed a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on preservation and compliance with the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM).

The adoption of the resolution on Wednesday demonstrates a growing understanding that although few nations actually fulfill the ABM Treaty, it is relevant to security of all countries, and the international forums, primarily the United Nations, cannot ignore a threat to the treaty, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

The ABM Treaty, signed by the United States and then Soviet Union in 1972, limits the number of weapons and radar equipment allowed for each country and regulates their type and location.

The UN General Assembly passed the resolution by a vote of 80 to 4 with 68 abstentions. The resolution, initiated by Belarus, China and Russia, won support from many developing nations such as Egypt, Colombia and Mexico. The United States, Israel, Albania and Micronesia voted against.

"The voting results reflect a growing concern of the international community over the fate of the ABM Treaty, a backbone of worldwide strategic stability. It also provides a foundation to the system of international agreements on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation," the Interfax news agency quoted the statement as saying.

"US plans for creating a national anti-missile system in violation of this treaty" triggered international apprehension, the statement said.

"An adaptation of the ABM Treaty to a US unilateral decision concerning the anti-missile system would signify abandonment of the document's key limitation and in effect destroy it. Russia, a signatory of the treaty, would not participate in such actions," it said.

"History proves that any attempts to strengthen one's own security at the expense of others are doomed to failure," the statement warned. "An abolition of ABM and nuclear disarmament treaties, which are tied to it, would prompt a lot of countries to revise their priorities and security methods."

"Therefore, the UN resolution has given a definite and timely signal to those who want to forego the treaty. Such actions potentially undermine strategic stability and international security including that of the United States," the statement said.

It stressed that Moscow opposes an escalation of arms race while it wants to further arms control process.

"We are prepared to continue cooperation with the United States in reducing strategic offensive weapons on the condition of preservation and compliance with the ABM Treaty. The UN resolution proves that the international community firmly supports our position," the statement added. (Xinhua)