Russian FM optimistic on arms control deal with US
MOSCOW — Russia’s foreign minister has signaled Moscow’s readiness for compromise on a new nuclear arms control agreement with the United States and said he hopes for a deal by year’s end, news reports said Tuesday.
Sergey Lavrov praised President Barack Obama’s administration for taking a constructive stance in talks with Russia, adding that diplomats from both nations are now working on detailed platforms on arms control, Russian news agencies reported.
Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will discuss the issue when they meet in Moscow on July 6-8 and give directives on how to proceed, Lavrov said.
He said preliminary contacts have shown that “there is a good chance to bring our positions closer and reach agreements.” He added, “The U.S. approach seems very constructive to me.”
Lavrov spoke to Russian reporters after returning from a visit to the United States where he held talks with Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Obama and Medvedev agreed during their meeting in London last month to fast-track negotiations on an agreement to replace the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START, which expires in December.
“We hope that by the year’s end we will be able to negotiate a mutually acceptable text of a new treaty, although we are pressed by time,” Lavrov said.
He said Russia would like a new deal to count all nuclear warheads, including those in storage. But he signaled that there is a room for compromise, adding that Moscow is ready to listen to the U.S. arguments to the contrary.
“We aren’t saying a categorical ‘no’ to the position taken by the Americans,” Lavrov said. “It’s key to have such an agreement that would encompass all warheads and all their delivery means. As for warheads kept at depots, it’s important to understand if and how exactly they will be accounted for.”
He added that Russia is expecting specific U.S. proposals on the issue and will analyze them “based primarily on the criterion of equal security.”
START I, signed by Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and President George H.W. Bush, called for each country to cut its nuclear warheads by at least one-quarter, to about 6,000.
A second deal — the so-called Treaty of Moscow — was signed in 2002 and called for cutting each country’s nuclear arsenal further, to 1,700-2,200 warheads by 2012. The document was closely based on START I rules and verification procedures.
The 2002 pact only counted the so-called “operationally deployed warheads,” or those attached to missiles.
Russia has criticized that provision, saying it could allow parties to quickly boost their arsenals by moving extra warheads from stockpiles.
Related News
Russia, US continue strategic arms reduction dialogueSeptember 21st, 2009 MOSCOW - For the first time, in talks on a new nuclear arms reduction deal, Moscow and Washington would be discussing concrete provisions for reaching an agreement to replace the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START-1) due to expire Dec 5. The sixth round of talks on a new nuclear arms reduction deal between Russia and the US opens Monday in Geneva.
Russia: Obama, Medvedev discuss Georgia days before anniversary of warAugust 4th, 2009 Obama, Medvedev discuss Georgia, arms controlMOSCOW — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday spoke with President Barack Obama about Georgia, just days before the anniversary of last year's Russia-Georgia war, a Kremlin statement said. The two leaders shared a telephone conversation at Moscow's initiative, the statement said, adding they also discussed arms control, the Middle East and Iran.
Obama, Medvedev agree to aim for nuclear arms reduction by end of the yearJuly 6th, 2009 Obama, Medvedev agree to pursue nuclear reductionMOSCOW — President Barack Obama said he and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev are countering "a sense of drift" in relations between their nations with preliminary agreement Monday to reduce the world's two largest nuclear stockpiles to as few as 1,500 warheads each. "We must lead by example, and that's what we are doing here today," Obama said as he and his Russian host pointed their arsenals toward the lowest levels of any U.S.-Russia arms control agreement.
Reports: Russian diplomat says Obama, Medvedev to sign "road map" for START replacement treatyJuly 6th, 2009 Reports: presidents to sign "road map"MOSCOW — Russian news agencies are citing a top diplomat as saying President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will sign a "road map" for a future treaty to replace the START arms control agreement. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov is quoted as saying that the document, called a "a joint understanding on questions of the further cuts and limitations on strategic offensive weapons," will not contain details for the new treaty.
US, Russian leaders sign agreement to negotiate lower limits on long-range nuclear weaponsJuly 6th, 2009 US and Russia agree to negotiate new arms dealMOSCOW — President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev have signed what they call a "joint understanding" to negotiate a new arms control treaty that would set substantially lower levels of nuclear warheads for both countries. The deal would replace a nuclear arms treaty that expires in December.
White House expects interim US-Russia deal on arms control, could lead to new treaty by 2010July 5th, 2009 US-Russia framework deal on arms control expectedMOSCOW — The White House said Sunday it expects President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to announce progress in negotiations that could lead to a new nuclear arms control treaty by the end of the year. Gary Samore, the president's coordinator for weapons of mass destruction, didn't offer any details on a possible agreement, but he said it will "register some progress."
Obama is scheduled to arrive Monday in Moscow for two days of meetings.
US lawmakers hold talks on NKorea, arms control in Russia to set ground for Obama visitJune 29th, 2009 US, Russia hold talks before Obama visitMOSCOW — U.S. lawmakers and their Russian counterparts have met to discuss arms control, North Korea and other international issues, setting the stage for President Barack Obama's visit to Moscow next week.
Russia says talks with US on nuclear arms 'constructive,' but hints summit may not bring dealJune 18th, 2009 Russia-US talks on nuclear arms 'constructive'MOSCOW — Russia says talks with the United States on nuclear arms reductions have been constructive, but suggests a summit next month may not bring a new deal. Talks on an arms reduction deal to replace the 1991 START treaty are a keystone of efforts to improve troubled Russian-American ties.
Report: Russian general says arms pact with US should not leave Russia below 1,500 warheadsJune 10th, 2009 Russia doesn't want to go below 1,500 warheadsMOSCOW — A top Russian general said Wednesday that a new U.S.-Russian arms control deal mustn't cut the number of nuclear warheads below 1,500 each, news reports said. Col.-Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov, the chief of the military's Strategic Missile Forces, said in remarks carried by Russian news agencies that it will be up to the Kremlin to make the final decision on how deep the cuts should be.
Russia, US begin nuclear arms reduction talksMay 19th, 2009 MOSCOW - Russia and the US have started the first round of talks here on a new strategic arms reduction treaty, the Russian foreign ministry said Tuesday. The US delegation is led by Rose Gottemoeller, US assistant secretary of state and the Russian side is headed by Anatoly Antonov, director of the security and disarmament department of the Russian foreign ministry.
Russian foreign minister meeting with Obama, Clinton amid new cooperation, old tensionMay 8th, 2009 Russian foreign minister meeting with ObamaWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has promised to restart Russian relations, but as Russia's foreign minister visits Washington on Thursday, old tensions are emerging. Sergey Lavrov has appointments with Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton after canceling a May 19 meeting at NATO to protest the alliance's military exercises this week in Georgia.
Clinton, Lavrov see progress on disarmament talksMay 8th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US and Russia are making progress towards a new nuclear disarmament treaty, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday as the one-time Cold War foes continue an effort to improve relations that have become strained over the last few years. Lavrov and Clinton said a new arms control treaty was the top priority for the two countries and insisted the talks would not be derailed by disagreements over other international issues, including the situation in Georgia and Iran's own nuclear programme.
EU optimistic it can renew ties with Russia, forge closer cooperationApril 28th, 2009 EU optimistic on renewing ties with RussiaLUXEMBOURG — The European Union's foreign policy chief says he is optimistic the European Union can follow the lead of the U.S. in rebuilding ties with Russia.
U.S, Russian negotiators meet in Rome for talks on new nuclear arms reduction treatyApril 24th, 2009 US-Russia talks on nuclear reduction beginROME — U.S. and Russian negotiators emerged optimistic Friday after talks aimed at creating a new treaty to reduce their nuclear weapon stockpiles.
Report: Russian foreign minister to meet Clinton in Washington on May 7 for nuclear talksApril 23rd, 2009 Report: Lavrov to meet Clinton in Washington May 7MOSCOW — A Russian news agency says Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will travel to Washington next month for talks on nuclear nonproliferation with U.S. counterpart Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Loading ...