Moscow expects no surprises from Washington, Igor Ivanov says

Moscow expects no surprises from Washington's decision to abrogate the ABM (Anti-Ballistic Missile) Treaty June 13th, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov told reporters here today.

We still regret this decision; however, this is already a fait accompli; therefore we should proceed from the premise that the US side has already withdrawn from the ABM Treaty, Ivanov stressed.

In his opinion, the virtual implementation of specific accords, which were reached during the US President's Moscow visit, i.e. strategic-stability accords, in the first place, is highly essential today. An important bilateral treaty on strategic offensive reductions was signed during George Bush's Moscow visit, Ivanov stressed.

We've got to minimize any possible consequences in connection with the US decision to shred the ABM Treaty, Ivanov added.

This issue will be examined during Ivanov's talks with US State Secretary Colin Powell that have already got underway.