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No prospects for Treaty on conventional forces in Europe — Russian defense ministry

The system of international security treaties is still needed, despite instability and attempts to implement colour revolution scenarios on the post-Soviet space, Russian Deputy Defence Minister says

MOSCOW, March 5. /TASS/. The Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) is a relic of the Cold War and does not have any prospects, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said on Thursday at a press conference in TASS.

"Some treaties are obsolete," Antonov said. "We are talking about the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. It is a relic of the Cold War. It is still in force and some people even try to preserve it," he said.

"This treaty is dead and there are no prospects for reviving it," Antonov noted.

"Another issue is that we should discuss with international partners what to create on the remains of this treaty," the minister added.

Russia suspended observance of its CFE obligations in 2007.

System of international security treaties still in demand

The system of international security treaties is still in demand, despite instability and attempts to implement "colour revolution" scenarios on the post-Soviet space, Russian Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov told a TASS news conference on Thursday.

"The system of international treaties devised over the past decades provides a strong basis for interstate relations, which can be regarded as a sort of safety net", the defence official said.

According to Antonov, this system allows to maintain dialogue in the most difficult times, when diplomatic means are exhausted and only military options remain. This is not the kind of situation that exists now, and agreements are still in demand, he said.

"I think it will take a lot of time for us to deal with the problems created by the Ukrainian crisis and the challenges created by Western countries that are trying to implement various kinds of "colour revolution" schemes in the former Soviet Union", Antonov said.

Russian troops not spotted on the western borders

Survey flights over Russia’s territory haven’t revealed any activity of the Russian army on the western borders, Deputy Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov told a TASS news briefing on Thursday.

"Thirty-five observation flights have been carried out over Russia’s territory recently as part of the Open Skies Treaty. Everyone is trying to figure out where Russian army units are located, what they are doing, where they are hiding and where they conduct warfare. The results of the inspections reveal that our troops are engaged in routine activities. Neither the Russian side nor international monitors have discovered any unusual activity or troops amassment", Antonov said.