Russia urges rapid ratification of START

In a statement on Friday, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that the ratification of a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START, may run into problems in the US Senate and the Russian State Duma.

Signed by the Russian and US Presidents in Prague on April 8, the document commits the two countries to significant cuts in their nuclear arsenals and delivery vehicles – something that is due to be fulfilled in the next seven years.

Earlier, Moscow and Washington signaled their readiness to ratify the fresh START pact simultaneously, which will certainly be a tricky task, Ryabkov said without elaborating. Echoing him is Konstantin Kosachev, head of the Duma’s International Affairs Committee. The ratification may well see both sides being at odds over a string of technical problems pertaining to the Treaty, Kosachev says.

These include the feasibility of the reduction of nuclear arms and delivery vehicles, a telemetric information exchange and ways of verification. Separately, the document envisages the development of a missile defense system by Washington, which has yet to allay Moscow’s concerns over the US missile shield, Kosachev goes on to say. Given that the new START Treaty is in line with Russia’s national interests, its ratification will be just a matter of time, Kosachev argues.

As for the Treaty’s ratification by the US Senate, Kosachev remained cautiously optimistic. We hail the Senate’s drive to grapple with the issue, Kosachev says, citing an upcoming pre-election campaign in the US, which he warns may significantly stall the ratification process. I do hope, however, he adds, that the ongoing political strife between the Republicans and the Democrats will not pre-empt the START pact from being ratified at the end of the day. A comprehensive and parity-leaning document, the fresh START Treaty contributes considerably to the two countries’ strategic stability, which is another indication for the document to be ratified in the foreseeable future, Kosachev contends.

He was echoed by an array of high-level US officials, who Kosachev says should do more to promote the START’s ratification at the US Senate in the days ahead.