Moscow, 14 July: Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed decree "On suspending by the Russian Federation the operation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and the relating international agreements", the presidential press service reported today.

"In connection with exceptional circumstances related to the contents of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe signed on 19 November 1990, which concern the security of the Russian Federation and require urgent measures to be taken, I order:

"1. In line with Article 37 Part 4 of the federal law from 15 July 1995 'On international agreements of the Russian Federation' to suspend the operation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe signed on 19 November 1990 in Paris, and the relating Agreement on Maximum Levels for Holdings of Conventional Arms and Equipment of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the People's Republic of Bulgaria, the Hungarian Republic, the Republic of Poland, Romania and the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic in connection with the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, which was signed in Budapest on 3 November 1990, and the (relating) Document Agreed By Member-States of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe of 19 November 1990, which is a supplement to the Final Document of the First Conference to Review the Operation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and the Concluding Act of the Negotiation on Personnel Strength (Vienna, 15-31 May 1996), 150 days after the notifications indicated in paragraph 2 of the present Decree are received.

"2. The Russian Foreign Ministry to send notifications about the suspension of the operation of these agreements to the member states and the depositaries of the international agreements that are indicated in paragraph 1 of the present Decree.

"3. The present Decree comes into force from the moment of its signing."