Russia’s Duma passes nuclear arms reduction treaty. The nation’s lower house of Parliament gave its final approval for the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which was originally signed between President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia and the US President Barack Obama in April 2010. The treaty, which agrees to a 30% reduction in each nation’s nuclear stockpiles, is part of a larger effort initiated by the two leaders toward a world free of nuclear weapons. The accord is now being submitted to Russia’s upper house of parliament for final approval.

Konstantin Kosachev, State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee chairman (speaking English): The binding part of it is the treaty itself, it is binding for both parties. The American senate resolution is binding for the American President and the American administration, the Russian ratification law is binding for the Russian President and the Russian government. They are, so to say, unilateral. So the treaty itself stays the way it was signed by the two presidents.

Barack Obama: This year, we will work with nearly 50 countries to begin a transition to an Afghan lead. And this July, we will begin to bring our troops home.

Our sincere appreciation, Russian Duma members, for your decision that furthers the goal of world peace. Blessed be such historic efforts in inspiring many others across the globe toward harmonious relations of dignity and shared respect.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/364135,approval-nuclear-start-treaty.html
http://rt.com/politics/adopt-bill-new-start/
http://rt.com/news/start-nuclear-new-treaty/
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/01/25/russia.start/