27/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - Catherine Ashton welcomes ratification of START treaty. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton welcomed final ratification on Wednesday 26 January of the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), negotiated between the US and Russia. This ratification follows the unanimous vote at the Russian Senate (Federation Council). In a press release published on Wednesday, the EU high representative declared: “In approving the treaty today, the Russian parliament has paved the way for the United States and Russia - which possess 95 percent of global stockpile of nuclear weapons - to make progress in fulfilling their disarmament commitments set in this landmark agreement”. She said that “ratification of the new START treaty will strengthen arms-control and the global non-proliferation regime”. Signed on 8 April by the Russian and American presidents, the treaty advocates a reduction of nuclear warheads to a maximum of 1550 by both countries (a 30% reduction compared to the level established in 2002) and introduces mutual certification mechanisms. It will enter into force in the next few weeks. The US Congress voted on this issue last December. The Lower House at the Russian parliament, the Duma, approved the text on Tuesday 25 January, in a third reading. (A.By./transl.fl)