Russian Defense Ministry does not find it reasonable to bolster obligations in conventional arms control in Europe
MOSCOW. Feb 5 (Interfax-AVN) - Negotiations on conventional arms control in Europe cannot be expected to produce any serious breakthrough, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov told reporters.
"We do not find it reasonable to enhance obligations in arms control - there is no point in updating the Vienna document amid NATO's anti-Russian training exercises and the dismantling of military contacts between NATO and Russia," Antonov said.
"The Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation continues working to fulfill its international commitments in the sphere of arms control," he noted.
In 2015, Russia accepted all inspection groups "that we were bound to accept under the Vienna document," the deputy defense minister said.
"Consequently, Russian specialists also inspected military facilities in Europe," Antonov said.
The Russian Defense Ministry seeks to make its combat training events as transparent as possible, he said.
"In particular, we inform the OSCE of surprise [combat readiness] inspections, which is not required by the Vienna document, and of large-scale exercises. We also hold briefings for military attaches following combat training events. We held a briefing on the new version of Russia's military doctrine as part of the 'Security Dialogue' in Vienna," the deputy defense minister said.
The Russian Defense Ministry believes that if the dialogue on arms control in Europe resumes, the principle of this control mechanism should be different from those used in the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe.
"Today, conventional weapons are comparable with nuclear weapons in terms of potential, and the list of 'strategic' systems is broadening - it is no longer possible to count only cannons and tanks," Antonov said.