Obama vows to seek ratification of arms reduction pact with Russia
Nov. 16, 2010
U.S. President Barack Obama renewed his resolve to seek an early ratification of a new U.S.-Russia accord on nuclear arms reduction in his talks Sunday with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev on the fringes of the Pacific Rim leaders' summit in Yokohama.
''I reiterated my commitment to get the START Treaty done during the lame duck session, and I've communicated to Congress that it is a top priority,'' Obama told reporters after the meeting, referring to the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START, that the two leaders signed in April.
He also told Medvedev, ''There's a nervousness of course about this dragging on, and the symbolism of it dragging would be not good for U.S.-Russia relations,'' a U.S. official said.
Obama said that he briefed Medvedev about the situation in the U.S. Congress following the Nov. 2 midterm elections and the Russian leader showed understanding, the official said.
The new treaty aims to implement significant cuts to their deployed nuclear warheads, replacing the 1991 arms reduction accord, or START I.
After Democrats suffered a major setback in the U.S. midterm elections, Obama said ratifying START is important in terms of other global nonproliferation efforts.
On Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization, Obama and Medvedev agreed to work closely on the matter. Medvedev told reporters that Moscow hopes to join the Geneva-based body promptly by clearing bilateral obstacles.
Obama and Medvedev also exchanged views on such issues as a missile defense plan in Europe and how to achieve peace in the Middle East and the situation in Sudan.
They discussed Medvedev's participation in the forthcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Lisbon later this month, where NATO members and Russia plan to hold a host of consultations aimed at reducing tensions and increase cooperation on various security matters in Europe.
Medvedev said the improvement of relations between Russia and NATO ''will be useful'' to both the United States and Russia as well as all other countries concerned.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on Nov.14, 2010)
''I reiterated my commitment to get the START Treaty done during the lame duck session, and I've communicated to Congress that it is a top priority,'' Obama told reporters after the meeting, referring to the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START, that the two leaders signed in April.
He also told Medvedev, ''There's a nervousness of course about this dragging on, and the symbolism of it dragging would be not good for U.S.-Russia relations,'' a U.S. official said.
Obama said that he briefed Medvedev about the situation in the U.S. Congress following the Nov. 2 midterm elections and the Russian leader showed understanding, the official said.
The new treaty aims to implement significant cuts to their deployed nuclear warheads, replacing the 1991 arms reduction accord, or START I.
After Democrats suffered a major setback in the U.S. midterm elections, Obama said ratifying START is important in terms of other global nonproliferation efforts.
On Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization, Obama and Medvedev agreed to work closely on the matter. Medvedev told reporters that Moscow hopes to join the Geneva-based body promptly by clearing bilateral obstacles.
Obama and Medvedev also exchanged views on such issues as a missile defense plan in Europe and how to achieve peace in the Middle East and the situation in Sudan.
They discussed Medvedev's participation in the forthcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Lisbon later this month, where NATO members and Russia plan to hold a host of consultations aimed at reducing tensions and increase cooperation on various security matters in Europe.
Medvedev said the improvement of relations between Russia and NATO ''will be useful'' to both the United States and Russia as well as all other countries concerned.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on Nov.14, 2010)
