MOSCOW, 2 February (BelTA) – The Collective Security Treaty Organization welcomes the extension of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START III), CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas said at an online press briefing on the military and political situation in and around the CSTO's area of responsibility, the CSTO's activities in 2020 and the goals for 2021, BelTA has learned.
“The United States took multiple steps to dismantle the existing arms control system,” Stanislav Zas said. “The Open Skies Treaty, one of the most wide-ranging international efforts promoting openness and transparency of military forces and activities, is expiring. The Russian-American START III is the last remaining tool of strategic arms control. Its extension was in question until the last moment, and the treaty is expiring literally this week – 5 February. But the new U.S. administration proposed to extend the treaty for five years without preconditions. It is gratifying that Russia immediately responded to this proposal because it had previously actively advocated the extension of this instrument. Of course, we can only welcome such steps because they will certainly strengthen global peace and security.”
“We hope that this will prevent the complete breakdown of the global strategic stability system and a large-scale arms race. I would also like to hope that the new U.S. administration will take a fresh look at other agreements for control arms and transparency of military forces and activities of countries and alliances of nations, in particular, the Open Skies Treaty,” CSTO chief said.
