Russia offers to revive European arms-control deal

[bemildred]

Source: AP

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia said Thursday it was proposing a new version of a key European arms-control treaty it suspended more than a year ago, and could once again honor the agreement if the U.S. and its NATO allies accept the changes.

The statement by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko signaled that the Kremlin hopes for better ties with Washington under President Barack Obama.

Nesterenko said Russia is proposing to negotiate revisions in the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty with the U.S. He added that other nations could also join the talks.

The 1990 treaty limits the number of tanks, aircraft and other heavy non-nuclear weapons that could be deployed west of the Ural Mountains — the edge of European Russia. A new revised version was signed in 1999, but NATO countries have not ratified it and in 2007 Russia suspended its participation.

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[Vidar]

1. Good for Russia.