Russia Delays Ratifying U.S. Arms Pact Over Iraq Row

Reuters ^ | 3/18/03

[kattracks]

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Russian parliament on Tuesday postponed a vote on ratification of a U.S.-Russia nuclear arms treaty because of differences over the Iraq crisis, a parliamentary official said.

Sergei Shishkaryov, deputy chairman of the State Duma's foreign affairs committee, was quoted by Itar-Tass news agency as saying deputies had been due to discuss ratification of the so-called Moscow Treaty on March 21 but this had been now put back to at least the beginning of April.

Shishkaryov, referring to a U.S. push for military action against Iraq's Saddam Hussein, said the decision had been taken because of "unprecedented pressure" exerted on Russia and other countries seeking a peaceful settlement to the crisis.

[toddst]

The Russians are mostly angry because they know the price of their oil on the market will decline, once Iraqi oil is available in volume. Poor babies!

[Enemy Of The State]

oh no, please Mr. Putin, whatever shall we do if we have to keep all of these weapons....guess we'll have to put them to use.

[steveegg]

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[lavaroise]

The Russians are mostly angry because they know the price of their oil on the market will decline, once Iraqi oil is available in volume. Poor babies!

THe Russians never wanted to disarm and sign in the first place....

[UncleSamUSA]

Looks like Pootie-Poot is returning to his Commie-KGB roots. But then again it looks like he needs the support of super-wussie Jacques Chirac for aid and comfort.

Is it too out of line to start boycotting Russian vodka and whatever the hell else comes from Russia? I don't think so.

[Jumper]

All the arms suppliers are angry at the United States; both Russia and France have sold military equipment to Iraq and it is about to sliced apart like a hot knife through butter! Just think, who will want to buy ineffective military equipment from the Russians and France if the defense industries of GB and the USA defeat it without much consequence? So, for Russia it might be both exports of Oil and Arms, which are going to lose their value very quickly.

[trebb]

Signing it is in their own best interest - in case Putin hasn't realized it yet, THEY LOST...
Our good will towards them is a lot more important than theirs towards us..

[toddst]

. . . who will want to buy ineffective military equipment from the Russians and France if the defense industries of GB and the USA defeat "them" (weapons Iraq has and uses) without much consequence?

Good point and I agree with you. The Russians must have had to discount their "advanced" weapons after Gulf War One.

[Ga Rob]

I say good...let them keep spending millions a year to just maintain those weapons!! They can truly afford that. DUh!! We on the other hand can afford it, so the whole thing is a win win for us. the Russian will begin to lose money on their oil, the Russians will continue to spend gobs of money on nukes they cannot use, etc,etc. You get the pic....the Russians will continue to come hat in hand to US for loans and such.