Russia, U.S. close to signing new arms control treaty

Source: RIA Novosti

Russia and the United States are wrapping up negotiations on a new nuclear arms reduction treaty to replace START 1, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

"Intensive efforts to prepare a bilateral legally binding treaty on further reductions and limits on strategic offensive weapons are close to completion," the ministry said in a statement.

The 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, the core of Russian-U.S. nuclear disarmament, expires on Saturday. Officials in Moscow and Washington said recently the new pact is unlikely to be ready by then, but expressed the hope that the document would be signed by yearend.

Presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama announced at their first meeting in April that the two countries would replace the START 1 treaty as part of their efforts to "reset" bilateral ties strained in recent years.

Read more: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20091204/157094899.html

Source: bbc

The US and Russia say they want a new nuclear arms treaty to enter force at soon as possible, after failing to agree a successor to the Start I pact.

The nations uphold the "spirit" of the 1991 Cold War-era treaty despite its end, the US and Russian presidents said in a joint statement.

Talks on a new accord are expected to continue after the treaty expires. at midnight on Friday.

Russia's foreign ministry said "intense efforts" were ongoing on a new treaty.


Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8395105.stm