Russia mulls ending foreign oversight of arms, nukes
Iran Press TV
Sat Mar 8, 2014 4:36PM GMT
The Russian Defense Ministry says Moscow is considering halting foreign inspections of its strategic weapons arsenal, including nuclear-capable missiles, in response to "threats" from the US and NATO over Ukraine crisis.
In a statement sent to all Russian news agencies on Saturday, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the move is in response to the recent threats by the US and NATO, adding that the "unfriendly gestures by the West allow us to declare force majeure circumstances."
The inspections are carried out as part of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) between Russia and the United States.
The development comes as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has already threatened to fully review its cooperation with Russia in the event that Moscow pushes its military intervention in the Crimea peninsula in eastern Ukraine.
Russia has blocked access to the port of Sevastopol in Crimea by deploying its naval vessels to both entrances of the Strait of Kerch. Strait of Kerch, located east of the Crimean peninsula, is the nearest point to Russian mainland.
Meanwhile, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has announced that its military observers are still being barred from entering Ukraine's autonomous region of Crimea.
A team of some 40 observers was stopped at a checkpoint by armed men flying Russian flag with reports saying warning shots were also fired.
Moscow said the team was prevented from passing because it failed to obtain official invitations from Crimean authorities.
MOL/AB/SS
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
