Russia hopes that U.S. lawmakers will consider a new strategic arms reduction treaty with Russia "coherent and mutually-beneficial" and speed up its ratification, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Friday.
On Thursday the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee recommended that the Senate ratify a new strategic arms reduction treaty with Russia signed by the U.S. and Russian presidents on April 8 in Prague as a replacement for the START 1 treaty that expired in December 2009.
U.S. President Barack Obama and other top officials also urged the Senate to speed up the ratification of the Russian-U.S. pact.
Andrey Nesterenko said the U.S.-Russian pact would have a positive influence on international stability and security.
"Its ratification will contribute to the strengthening of the non-proliferation regime," Nesterenko said.
Nesterenko added that the document contains a unilateral get-out clause to be made use of if either of the countries believes its national interests are threatened.
MOSCOW, September 17 (RIA Novosti)
