U.S. Links Ratification of Adapted CFE with Pull Out of Russian Bases

U.S. Ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow said in an interview with the Russian news agency Interfax on May 7 that the United States and many other member states of the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty made it clear that an Adapted CFE Treaty will not be ratified until Russia meets its commitment regarding the pullout of its military bases from Georgia and Moldova, undertaken at the 1999 OSCE Istanbul Summit .

The U.S. Ambassador expressed hope that Russia and Georgia will soon reach an agreement over the withdrawal of military bases.

Meanwhile, U.S. President George W. Bush is expected to push the issue of Russian military bases during the talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow on May 9. Bush said on May 5 that the United States is willing ?to facilitate? but it is up to Georgia and Russia to resolve this problem.

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