NATO Growth Blamed for Treaty Inaction

Russia would have ratified the START II agreement on nuclear arms reduction if NATO had not expanded into Eastern Europe, the speaker of the Russian parliament said Friday.

Hard-liners in the lower house, the Duma, have blocked ratification, arguing that it will hurt Russia’s national security and will be too expensive. The treaty, signed by both countries in 1993, was ratified by the U.S. Senate in 1996.

NATO’s decision to accept new members added to Russian apprehensions, Gennady Seleznyov, a Communist, said Friday during a meeting with U.S. House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.).