Russia: 95% of new arms treaty agreed
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The new strategic arms reduction treaty (START) has almost been agreed upon by Russia and the United States, said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Sunday.
"Ninety-five percent of issues have been coordinated. I have rather optimistic expectations regarding the treaty," Medvedev told reporters at Krasnaya Polyana, a ski resort near the Black Sea city of Sochi.
"As regards the document, (U.S.) President (Barack) Obama and I clearly outlined the limits -- what we may not do and what they may not do. Everything is clear here," he said.
Russia and the United States have been working on a successor to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START-1) that expired on Dec. 5, 2009.
The START-1, signed in 1991 between the Soviet Union and the United States, obliged both sides to reduce the number of their nuclear warheads to 6,000 and delivery vehicles to 1,600.
Medvedev and Obama agreed in July to slash each country's nuclear warheads to 1,500 to 1,675 and delivery vehicles to 500 to 1,000 under a new START treaty. Disagreements remain on verification and control arrangements to be included in the document.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that Moscow and Washington would resume their arms talks "at the start of February." The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the continuation of talks in Geneva in February one day later.
Meanwhile, Medvedev said Russia would definitely ask the question about the U.S. missile defense system.
"It would be a deceit to discuss strategic nuclear forces without missile defense. If there are nuclear launches, there will be launches of anti-missile missiles," he said.
Russia insists on linking the new nuclear arsenal cut deal to the U.S. anti-missile shield. Obama announced on Sept. 17, 2009 to abandon the Bush-era missile defense shield program while initiating a "phased, adaptive approach" of the plan in Eastern Europe.
