For the first time in history of Russian-US relations principle of mutual security is laid down in sop treaty

For the fist time in the history of Russian-US relations the principle of mutual security is laid down in the Russian-US Treaty on the Reduction of Strategic Offensive Potentials (SOP), officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia said.

As they noted, this reflects "a qualitatively new stage in the positive development of relations between the two countries". The principles on which such partnership in the military-strategic sphere will be built - mutual security, cooperation, confidence, openness and predictability - are specified in the Preamble of the Treaty.

The new Treaty proceeds from the recognition by the sides of their allegiance to the purpose of strengthening mutual relations by way of cooperation. It states that the new global challenges and threats require establishment of new strategic relations between Russia and the USA based on genuine partnership.

So, the new Treaty "makes emphasis first of all on a more developed basis of strategic relations between Russia and the USA in which the principles of partnership and cooperation, and the mutual recognition of the demands emanating from the new global challenges and threats hold a far greater place," the officials of the Russian Foreign Ministry noted.