Western actions violate non-proliferation treaty: Russian diplomat

Actions taken by the United States and NATO to conduct nuclear-related joint exercises contradict their obligations of nuclear security and non-proliferation in the Eurasia continent, a senior Russian diplomat said Friday.

"Continuing joint exercises, held by the U.S. and other NATO countries within the framework of the so-called nuclear sharing concept, contradict the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said at a meeting in the State Duma, the lower chamber of parliament.

Under a policy of deterrence and common defense, the three nuclear countries of NATO, namely the United States, Britain and France, guarantee their "nuclear umbrella" over the alliance's "non-nuclear" members.

Ryabkov also pointed out that Moscow sees an actual expansion of NATO and U.S. infrastructures especially near Russia's western borders.

Meanwhile, he said the State Duma is discussing the ratification of a protocol to the Central Asian Nuclear Weapon Free Zone treaty.

The protocol, signed by the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council last May, oblige them not to use nuclear weapons in the region.

According to Ryabkov, it is doubtful that the protocol would be ratified by the United States.

He said that although the U.S. government has announced its determination over the protocol's ratification, Moscow is concerned that security and nuclear non-proliferation documents may face great difficulties when being submitted to the U.S. Congress for approval. Endi