NATO says Russian pullout of arms treaty 'disappointing'

BRUSSELS (AFP) - NATO on Saturday branded Russia's decision to pull out of the Conventional Forces in Europe arms control treaty as "disappointing."

"It's a disappointing move, a step backwards. NATO considers this treaty to be an important foundation of European security and stability," NATO spokesman James Appathurai said.

The Kremlin announced Saturday that President Vladimir Putin had signed a decree suspending Russia's application of the CFE treaty.

Russia has threatened several times to pull out of the treaty because of the US military encroachment into territory once part of the former Soviet Union, including Washington's plans to develop a missile defense shield in Europe.

The CFE treaty, which came into force in 1992, is one of the key post-Cold War security accords in Europe.

It limits deployments of tanks and troops in countries belonging to NATO and the former Warsaw Pact in eastern Europe and lays down measures aimed at confidence-building, transparency and cooperation between member states.