Putin clarifies Russia's readiness to negotiate on ABM TreatyRussia does not think the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty has become obsolete, but is prepared for negotiations on amendment to the document, President Vladimir Putin said.President Putin said in an interview with Finnish media, before visit to Finland on September 2-3, that Russia did not agree with the words that the ABM treaty has become outdated, but "we display a good will, being ready for negotiations." Commenting on the US proposal to cut the offensive weapons to 1,500 warheads, Putin said this motion makes sense only in case of creating a mechanism of mutual confidence and mutual supervision. Putin said Russia had given up nuclear tests although it does not have computers for modeling nuclear explosions, which exist in the US "We do not intend to make nuclear explosions or carry out nuclear tests unless our partners, and, above all, US partners, do otherwise," he said. Russia will not do anything that could aggravate the international situation, because it gains no good from doing this, said the president. The main goal of Russia's foreign policy is to create such a situation that could promote the settlement of its internal economic and political tasks, which implies "world stability, good- neighborly relations with our neighbors and main partners, to whom we, undoubtedly, refer to the US," Putin stressed. |
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