MOSCOW. May 10 (Interfax) - The Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) has long existed only on paper, and its denouncement will bolster Russia's security, State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Leonid Slutsky said.
"Given the existent realities in relations with unfriendly countries, the final denouncement of the CFE Treaty by Russia will serve the purpose of strengthening Russia's national interests and security," Slutsky told reporters on Wednesday.
"Russia suspended its participation in the CFE Treaty back in 2007 because of the hypocritical stance of NATO, whose members never ratified the adapted edition of the Treaty. [...] From the practical point of view, the CFE Treaty has long existed only on paper," he said.
The State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee is ready to discuss the denouncement of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe as a priority, "as soon as the package of documents is submitted by the president for the State Duma's consideration," Slutsky said. "I do not rule out that it may be submitted for consideration at a plenary meeting of the State Duma as soon as on May 16, and the Duma Council will make the final decision," he said.