http://asia.dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/world/article.html?s=asia/headlines/010321/world/afp/Russia_could_withdraw_from_CTBT__minister.html

MOSCOW, March 20 (AFP) - Russia could withdraw from the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty if it concludes that the accord "is against (its) interests," Atomic Energy Minister Yevgeny Adamov said on Tuesday.

"The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) foresees the possibility of withdrawing, including unilaterally, from the treaty," said Adamov, cited by the Russian daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta. Moscow could do so "if President (Vladimir Putin) decides that respecting the treaty is against the interests of national security in Russia."

Russia signed the landmark treaty, aimed at banning all nuclear tests worldwide, in September 1996, along with the four other declared nuclear powers (Britain, China, France and the United States).

The Russian parliament ratified it in May last year but the United States and China have not yet done so.

The atomic energy minister also said it was necessary to "reconsider" the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), as "it causes serious harm to the economic interests" of Russia and could "force it out of Asian markets."

"We have received more orders for the construction of nuclear reactors than the world's major companies" in this field, Adamov added.

Non-nuclear states struck a bargain with the nuclear powers in May 1995 by agreeing to an indefinite extension of the 1970 NPT, which commits them not to develop nuclear weapons.

In exchange, the five powers then known to possess atomic weapons promised to negotiate "in good faith" towards nuclear disarmament, but many non-nuclear powers say the pledge has not been honoured.

Adamov insisted nonetheless that Moscow would not contribute to the spread of nuclear weapons.

"By accusing Russia, constantly and without proof, of contributing to the development of nuclear weapons in Iran, well-known countries have pursued objectives which lie far from concern about non-proliferation," he said, in an apparent barb at the United States.

"No one in the world has managed to make an atomic bomb from a nuclear reactor," the minister added.

Washington has repeatedly voiced concerns that Russian cooperation with Iran in civilian nuclear energy will help Teheran to develop atomic weapons.

During a visit last week to Moscow by Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin insisted that Russia would help Iran to build the controversial Bushehr reactor.