Russian parliament ratifies nuclear arms cutting treaty

Reaching out to improve relations with Washington, Russia’s lower house of parliament today ratified the latest US-Russian arms control treaty that slashes the nuclear arsenals of both countries by two-thirds.

After considering the treaty in a closed door debate, the Duma voted 294 in favour of the treaty while 134 voted against it. The US Senate already has approved the accord, formally called the Moscow Treaty.

The ratification came the same day that US Secretary of State Colin Powell was in Moscow for talks with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov aimed at paving the way for a smooth summit between President Vladimir Putin and President George Bush.

The Duma had dragged its feet on ratification of the treaty because of the US led war in Iraq, which Russia opposed.

The Moscow Treaty calls on Russia and the United States to cut their strategic nuclear arsenals by about two-thirds, to 1,700 to 2,200 warheads, by 2012.

The treaty allows each country to stockpile the warheads, which are to be taken off duty contrary to Russia’s initial push for their destruction. The cash-strapped Russian military cannot afford to maintain nuclear arsenals on par with the United States.

Hard-line opponents of the treaty in Russia called it treacherous.

“This treaty is a gift to Bush,” said Communist Party chief