No Comments, Says Russia's Foreign Ministry As Media Report Usa To Bang Door On Abm Treaty

The USA is determined to quit the ABM treaty quite soon, allege several media outlets. Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs refuses to comment the reports. Indicatively, Igor Ivanov, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, was asked how he would respond in case the USA quit the treaty. The question was made after President Vladimir Putin held conference with Colin Powell, US Secretary of State, in Moscow yesterday, December 10. Russian forecasts do not rule out that the United States may leave the treaty after spokesmen of Washington, D.C., repeatedly warned about the option, which is stipulated by the treaty, Clause 15. Russian national security experts envisage tentative action if the USA really quits, replied Mr. Ivanov. Russia regards the anti-missile defence treaty of 1972 among the pivots of global strategic stability, he emphatically added. It is Russia's essential duty to promote control of arsenal reduction and mass destruction weapon nonproliferation, said the minister.