NATO "very concerned" at Russia treaty pullout

By Paul Taylor, European Affairs Editor

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO said on Monday it was very concerned at Russia's decision to suspend participation in a landmark treaty limiting armed forces in post-Cold War Europe amid growing tension over a U.S. missile shield.

President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Friday suspending participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) pact from mid-December in apparent retaliation for plans to deploy parts of a U.S. interceptor system in Poland and the Czech Republic.

"The announcement by the Russian Federation ... is deeply disappointing. The Allies are very concerned by this unilateral decision," the 26-nation Western military alliance said.

Eduard Shevardnadze, who as Soviet foreign minister helped to seal the 1990 CFE pact, called Putin's move the first step towards a new Cold War. But a Russian military source insisted Moscow had no plans for any large-scale westward deployment after it quits the treaty.

In a statement, NATO said it placed the highest value on the CFE regime, which limits the numbers of heavy weapons deployed between the Atlantic and the Ural mountains.

"We hope that the Russian Federation will join us in constructive and creative dialogue to ensure the continued operation and viability of the landmark CFE Treaty, including its flank regime, and not undermine prospects for entry into force of the adapted CFE treaty," it said.

Shevardnadze, a dove who played a central role in ending the East-West conflict, told Reuters: "I believe this step is the first move towards reviving the Cold War.

"In my opinion, this step by Moscow is a response to Washington's decision to deploy elements of its anti-missile shield in Europe."