MOSCOW. May 23 (Interfax) - A possible resumption of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), as well as other steps in nuclear disarmament which the G7 has called for, cannot be discussed without calculating NATO's aggregate capabilities, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said when responding to the media questions about statements from the G7 following its summit.
"We note that the G7's call for resuming the provisions of New START and other steps in the nuclear field does not indicate any willingness to take into account NATO's aggregate capabilities in this context. These subjects cannot be discussed in earnest without that," Ryabkov said.
"In nuclear matters, Russia invariably acts in a responsible manner, showing all possible 'transparency' within the limits determined by considerations of political and military expediency," he said.
"Over the past decade, our country has notably increased the level of transparency with regard to its doctrinal guidelines in nuclear matters, as well as regarding programs for modernizing nuclear deterrence forces," Ryabkov said.
"As for [...] Western countries, [...] firstly, the figures they declare are often fictional or notional. In particular, the data concerning U.S. strategic nuclear arms published recently by the Department of State are misleading, just like before, as they are inconsistent with New START's counting rules. [...] This leaves a substantial capability, in particular more than 100 strategic nuclear arms which must fall within the treaty's scope, unaccounted for [...] As for data concerning the size of the United Kingdom's and France's arsenals, they are unverifiable and purely declarative [...] The whole story about the publication of these data gives reasons to point out once again how significant NATO's aggregate arsenal is in strategic calculations," he said.