No backroom deals in START

WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) -- Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller Thursday told a Senate committee there are no backroom deals in the new arms reduction treaty with Russia.

Gottemoeller, the assistant secretary for verification, compliance and implementation, told the Senate Armed Services Committee the United States takes the verification processes in the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty very seriously and any cheating on the part of Russia would be seen as a serious breach.

"To those who may have concerns regarding alleged backroom deals during the treaty negotiations, let me state unequivocally today on the record before this committee, as I have stated before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, that there were no -- and I repeat no -- secret deals made in connection with the New START Treaty; not on missile defense, nor on any other issue," Gottemoeller said.

She also said at no time did the United States promise not to install any strategic missiles in Europe.

"The New START treaty will enhance U.S. national security by stabilizing the strategic balance between the United States and the Russian Federation at lower levels of nuclear forces," she said. "The New START Treaty preserves the United States' right to determine our own force structure, giving us the flexibility to deploy and maintain our strategic nuclear forces in a way that best serves U.S. national security interests.

"As long as nuclear weapons exist, the United States will maintain a safe, secure and effective arsenal to deter any adversary and protect our allies."