Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 26 announced the possibility that he would freeze his country's commitments under a key treaty limiting military buildup in Europe. In between words of praise for Russia's economic and political achievements, Putin used his annual state-of-the-nation address to level an unambiguous warning to the West.
"It is time our partners made their own contribution to the reduction of armaments, by deeds, not words. Instead, they keep building up their armaments," Putin said in a nationally televised speech before Russia's Federal Assembly.
"It's time for them to contribute to armament reduction at least in Europe. I propose discussing this issue at the NATO-Russia Council, and if no progress is achieved in negotiations, I propose to consider discontinuing our obligations under the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty."
The CFE Treaty, signed in 1990 and revised in 1999, commits 28 European states, the United States, and Canada to limiting military deployments across the continent.
NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has called the treaty a cornerstone of European security.
"Grave Concern"
Speaking April 26 at a NATO foreign ministers meeting in the Norwegian capital of Oslo, de Hoop Scheffer said he was dismayed by Putin's announcement.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, he said, "confirmed President Putin's statement made this morning that Russia is suspending -- he used the word 'moratorium' -- its adherence to the adapted CFE Treaty."
De Hoop Scheffer added: "I can tell you that that message was met by concern, grave concern, disappointment and regret."
The threat from Russia came as NATO ministers were discussing a plan by the United States to base parts of a new missile-defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic.
The U.S. says the system is needed to protect the West against a possible missile attack by Iran.
Double Standard?
Russia has been unremitting in its opposition to the proposal. It accuses Washington of seeking to build up a defense shield that could eventually be used to repel Russia's own nuclear arsenal.
Lavrov, speaking in Oslo, defended Russia's sense of alarm.
"We can't be unconcerned by the fact that the NATO military infrastructure is drawing closer to our borders," he said.
Moscow is also irritated by the refusal by the United States and other NATO members to ratify the amended 1999 CFE treaty.
Those countries say they will not ratify the document until Russia honors commitments to withdraw military bases from Georgia and Moldova.
It is so far unclear what Putin's proposed "moratorium" on CFE obligations means in real terms.
Russia's Defense Ministry said today it expects to hold talks with NATO on the issue in May.
Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
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