Regarding North Atlantic Council's statement on Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe

On 28 March the NATO North Atlantic Council issued a statement on the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), where NATO expresses firm commitment to the CFE framework and its long-term role. The Russian Federation is urged to renew its participation in the Treaty, so that by joint efforts a mutually acceptable solution for maintaining the Treaty can be found.   

In order to renew full operation of the CFE framework, NATO has proposed to Russia a package of parallel actions. Implementation of the package would achieve a resolution of the existing concerns with regard to the issue of the withdrawal of forces and munitions from Moldova and Georgia. The package also provides for the ratification of the Adapted CFE Treaty of 1999, and it would create preconditions for the accession of new States Parties to the Treaty.   

As is known, in December 2007 Russia unilaterally suspended its participation in the CFE Treaty. Since the end of the Cold War, this Treaty has served as a foundation for mutually beneficial and co-operative military relationships. The Foreign Ministry has already expressed its opinion previously that Russia's unilateral decision to suspend participation in the CFE Treaty does not encourage an atmosphere of security and trust, and has a negative effect on armament control mechanisms.

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