(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-10-14 09:56

The CFE treaty also puts Russia in a favorable position in negotiations. The pact, signed by 22 states in Paris on November 19, 1990, was an agreement between NATO members and Warsaw Pact countries aimed at establishing a balance in Europe by cutting weapons of conventional armed forces.

On July 13, 2007, Putin signed a decree suspending Russia's participation in the treaty, arousing "great concern" among European countries.

NATO spokesman James Appathurai said, "NATO considers this treaty to be an important foundation of European security and stability."

Russia had threatened several times to withdraw from the treaty when it was at odds with the US over the planned missile defense shield in Eastern Europe.

Under pressure from its European allies, the US showed its concern about Russia's declared intention to withdraw from the CFE Treaty.

After the talks on Friday, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he hoped that the two parties would be able to bridge their differences and that specialists would be able to sort out a solution to the problem.

However, Russia considers the US proposals on salvaging the CFE Treaty inadequate.

According to Lavrov, Russia and the United States will continue their consultations on the missile defense in Europe involving foreign and defense ministers of the two countries, in what is called the "two-plus-two" format, in six months in Washington.

"We have agreed that this format will deal with practical implementation of the initiatives, which our countries jointly promote and implement on the international arena for the sake of strategic stability," Lavrov said.

Some Russian officials said the US willingness to cooperate was due to Russia's hard steps.

"Russia's recent resolute steps, including the resumption of patrol missions of its long-range aircraft and the rearmament of its armed forces with new types of powerful weapons, have played a significant role in this change," Russian State Duma international affairs committee head Konstantin Kosachyov said, as quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency.

He said that in addition to the suspension of Russia's participation in the CFE Treaty, these steps have created "a fundamentally different climate" in the Russian-US relations.

He also believed that "the clearly articulated agreement between the parties to continue negotiations on a regular basis" is the most important result of the meeting.

Analysts have noticed that although Russia and the United States have barely budged their positions, they have maintained their interest in dialogues and agreed to continue consultations on the issue.

However, it is believed that no definitive results can be expected from the talks before the presidential elections in both countries next year.

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