MOSCOW, April 17 (AVN) - The State Duma lower house of parliament will consider the ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in May 2000, a source in the Duma defence committee told the Military News Agency.
The Duma committee for international affairs is responsible for the ratification bill, the defence and security committees are co-responsible.
Russia signed CTBT on September 14, 1996. At present 154 states have acceded to the treaty and 51 countries have ratified it. The USA is preparing for ratification in late 2000. China is also on the preparation phase.
The Russian government is backing up the ratification of the CTBT and considers it possible to finance activities on its realisation. Some RUR3.5bn (about USD122m) will be needed for that purpose, the source added.