DUMA TO DISCUSS START II TREATY THIS MONTH.

The Russian Duma has voted 245 to 1 to hold a closed preliminary hearing on the START II strategic nuclear arms reduction treaty on March 19. Aleksei Mitrofanov, chairman of the Duma’s Geopolitical Committee, made the proposal. According to Aleksei Arbatov, a deputy belonging to the Yabloko faction, the government has still not responded to the Duma’s request for a draft federal program to implement the treaty. (Interfax, March 5)

Tokyo Wants Explanation for Russian’s No-Show.