1 Aug 2019 10:44

Washington looking for pretexts to quit int'l agreements - Ryabkov

MOSCOW. Aug 1 (Interfax) - The United States is looking for pretexts to quit nearly all international agreements; this seems to be their attitude, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Interfax in an interview.

"The only way to fix problems in this area [arms control] is to come to terms, to agree on preserving arms control, on taking measures to reduce the risk of escalation, primarily on preventing dangerous incidents, and on a number of other issues overlooked and neglected by our U.S. colleagues who are searching for pretexts to quit various sorts of international agreements as fast as they can," Ryabkov said.

"They have de facto rescinded their signature under the international arms trade treaty a short time ago. Now we hear that the New START was erroneously composed from the beginning and should not be extended for that reason. All those statements are made for the record. I mean this is a combination of steps demonstrating a certain attitude," he said.