Clinton greets Russian nuclear vote

Russia's new doctrine envisages possible first use of nuclear weapons

US President Bill Clinton has welcomed the Russian parliament's approval of an international treaty aimed at ending all nuclear tests.

The lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) hours after Moscow adopted a tough new military doctrine that reserves the country's right to first use of nuclear weapons.

"I am pleased the Russian State Duma today approved the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty," Mr Clinton said, describing it as "an important step towards a safer future".

"(This) renews momentum for the international effort to halt the spread of nuclear weapons and promote disarmament around the world," he added.

Russia claims 'leadership'

CTBT and the nuclear powers

Russia, the UK and France have signed and ratified the treaty

US and China have signed but not ratified

Israel has signed but not ratified whilst officially denying possessing weapons

India and Pakistan remain outside CTBT

Mr Clinton expressed confidence that the US Congress would follow suit.

However, the Clinton administration failed last October to persuade the US Senate to ratify the treaty because of opposition from Republican lawmakers.

After Russia's ratification Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said: "This step can be seen as the hallmark of Russia's new leadership in foreign policy."

The move followed the Duma's ratification of the Start II nuclear weapons reduction treaty one week ago.

Click here to see a map of Russia's nuclear bases

Swift ratification of the treaties is being seen by observers as evidence of Mr Putin's firm grip over the Duma, in sharp contrast to his predecessor Boris Yeltsin.

Mr Putin also wants to put pressure on the US not to go ahead with a plan for a national missile defence system - a project Russia strongly opposes.

The Duma overwhelmingly ratified the CTBT

The United Kingdom welcomed the Duma's decision, but also looked forward to US ratification.

"We hope the US and China will now do likewise," Foreign Office Minister Peter Hain said.

"Early signature of the treaty by India and Pakistan would also be a major step forward," he added.

Tough doctrine

When the CTBT has been approved by the upper house of the Russian parliament it will have been passed by 30 of the 44 states whose ratification is necessary for it to come into force.

Russia's tough new nuclear doctrine was adopted at a meeting of the national security council, the top advisory body to the president on security.

The text of the doctrine answers the national interests of Russia

Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov

According to the Kremlin, the document states that "the Russian federation envisages the possibility of using all forces and means at its disposal, including nuclear weapons, where all other means to settle the crisis have been exhausted or have proven ineffective".

President-elect Vladimir Putin was expected to sign the document into law later on Friday.

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said: "The text of the doctrine answers the national interests of Russia."

Western alarm

There was alarm in the West when a version of the new Russian military doctrine appeared in February.

Russian officials have since then tried to reassure the West that the threat from Russia has not increased, and that their nuclear doctrine is little different from that of Nato.

The BBC's Nick Childs in Moscow says the adoption of the doctrine now, may in part be meant to appease hardliners at a time when Mr Putin is pushing through Russian ratification of key arms control measures.

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