OSCE Chairman calls for renewed efforts to address CFE Treaty concerns

MADRID, 14 July 2007 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, said today he had taken note, with concern, of Russia's decision to suspend its participation in the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe and called on all the States Parties to the Treaty to renew their efforts to address the underlying concerns swiftly and earnestly.

"I have taken note of President Vladimir Putin's decision to issue a decree suspending Russia's participation in the Treaty," said Minister Moratinos.

"The OSCE considers this Treaty to be a cornerstone of European security and stability and therefore its suspension by one of its main parties is a matter of high concern. I urge all the States Parties to renew their efforts to examine the underlying difficulties swiftly and earnestly and work together to overcome them."

The CFE Treaty was signed in Paris in November 1990 and entered into force in 1992. It provides for significant cuts in the conventional military arsenals of NATO and former Warsaw Pact States. Since it entered into force, more than 60,000 battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, artillery, combat aircraft and attack helicopters have been taken out of service.

Although not an OSCE document or event, the CFE Treaty was negotiated in parallel with talks among participating States of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe - the OSCE forerunner - on confidence-building measures.