Nuke missiles will not be touched, avers Putin
DADAN UPADHYAY

MOSCOW, APRIL 15: Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin has assured Russians that not a single nuclear missile will be removed until it completed its full active service. He was talking to journalists one day after the ratification of START II treaty by the State Duma, lower house of parliament.

He said that the ratification fully met the national interest of Russia, adding, ``Whether we ratified START II or not, we would have withdrawn these missiles from active service by 2007 any way.''

Putin quoted experts from Russian Defence Ministry as telling that is was dangerous and economically useless to further prolong their service life. ``It's much more useful to channel funds to the modernisation of conventional arms and the revival of the navy and aviation,'' he noted.

Putin also made it clear that reduction of Russian nuclear warheads will depend how US acted on its commitments. ``We will very carefully observe how our partners are fulfilling their obligations,'' he said.

Putin's remarks came as he prepared to go on a well-scripted foreign trip, even before his official inauguration scheduled for May 7.... London which he views as Russia's ``strategic partner'' in the West. The Kremlin expects that Britain could act as a bridge in relations with other leading Western countries, the US first of all.

On Monday, Putin is scheduled to hold talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and will call on Queen Elizabeth II. He will also be meeting with British business leaders as Russia needs massive foreign investment if its economy is to improve.

Way back to Moscow, Putin will make a stopover in Kiev to discuss with President Leonid Kuchma the Ukraine's uncertain position towards NATO.

Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.