Russia scraps anti-crime deal with US
2013-01-30 19:46
Moscow - Russia is pulling out of a crime-fighting and
anti-drug agreement with the US amid rising tensions.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev informed Washington on Wednesday
that Russia was scrapping the 10-year old accord because it was no longer
relevant.
The agreement covered terrorism, corruption and
transnational crime such as drug smuggling and human trafficking.
Alexey Pushkov, chair of Russia's parliamentary foreign
affairs committee, told the Interfax news agency that the decision would not
harm US-Russia relations and represented Russia's ability to manage its
internal affairs without outside help.
Last year, Russia expelled the US International
Development Agency and warned it wouldn't extend the Nunn-Lugar programme
helping in the dismantling of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons
stockpiles.
The US withdrew from a joint civil society working group
on Friday.
- AP
