FC ratifies Russia-China agmt on ballistic missile launches.

MOSCOW, October 27 (Itar-Tass) - The Federation Council upper house of
the Russian parliament on Wednesday ratified the agreement with China on
notifications about the launches of ballistic missiles and booster rockets
from national territories. The document was signed on October 13, 2009.
The agreement covers the launches of ballistic missile with a range of
over 2,000 kilometers and the booster rockets in possession of the
signatories and international organizations or legal entities, both
state-owned and private ones.
In addition, it applies to all ballistic missiles and boosters
launched from the signatories' territories by a third country, or if one
of the signatories performs such a launch from the territory of the state,
which is not a participant in the agreement.
The document sets the timeframe for issuing notifications, and the
procedure for bilateral consultations over the implementation of the
reached accords.
Information exchanges on missile launches will be confidential and
contribute to the prevention of possible launch-related emergencies.
According to chairman of the FC committee for defence and security
Viktor Ozerov, the ratification will help create international legal
groundwork for "developing mutual trust, openness and predictability,
strengthening strategic cooperation and partnership between Russia and
China."
The implementation of the agreement does not require additional
federal budget funding.
-0-myz/kud