Our Economy Bureau

New Delhi, Dec 15: India on Saturday advocated a “cooperative approach” between the US and Russia without taking recourse to unilateralism in the ongoing consultations relating to the 1972 Anti-ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty.

Observing that India has been in regular dialogue with both Russia and the US on ballistic missile defence and the new strategic framework, an external affairs ministry spokesperson said, “We have consistently advocated a cooperative approach and not taking recourse to unilateralism.”

A formal notice of withdrawal from the 1972 bilateral ABM treaty was tendered on Friday to the Russian Federation by the US.

US President George W Bush and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have held intensive and wide-ranging consultations and have also reiterated their commitment to work closely.

“We welcome this process. We particularly welcome the reaffirmation by Russia and the US to substantially reduce their strategic offensive nuclear weapons,” she said, adding that the cuts will contribute very significantly towards nuclear disarmament. New Delhi supports the consultation process between Washington and Moscow towards building common ground.

Meanwhile, US defence secretary Donal Rumsfeld has said the US withdrawal from the 1972 anti-ballistic missile treaty will end the cold war arms race.

He is claimed to have told newsmen on his way to Azerbaijan that “with the withdrawal from the treaty we are seeing both sides announce the end of the arms race and a dramatic reduction in the number of strategic weapons.”

“Rather than causing problems, it seems that this puts aside a problem so that we can look forward into the 21st century and not backward into the cold war,” Mr Rumsfeld added.

However, UN secretary-general Kofi Annan has expressed regret over the US decision to unilaterally withdraw from the ABM treaty, which he fears might provoke an arms race.