UN hopes for no delay in ratification of strategic arms deal

[nandu]

UN hopes for no delay in ratification of strategic arms deal

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the end of negotiations on the new Russian-U.S. nuclear arms reduction treaty, and expressed hope for its ratification as soon as possible.

The Kremlin and the White House announced on Friday that the new deal to replace the START I treaty, which expired in December 2009, will be signed by the presidents of Russia and the U.S. on April 8 in Prague.

"I welcome the conclusion of negotiations between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on a successor agreement to the treaty on reduction and limitations of strategic offensive arms," Ban said in a statement, read by his spokesman Martin Nesirky.

"I hope that this new treaty can be ratified without delay, so as to allow its expeditious implementation," he added. "I encourage other nuclear weapon states to follow suit."

Ban praised the deal as "an important milestone of the international efforts to advance the nuclear disarmament and to achieve the world free of the nuclear weapons."

He said the treaty would "add a significant impetus" to the forthcoming nuclear non-proliferation treaty review conference, to be held in May at the UN headquarters in New York.

http://en.rian.ru

 

[nandu]

John Kerry calls on senators not to hinder arms deal ratification

U.S. Senator John Kerry called on senators to set aside preconceptions and not create obstacles to the ratification of the arms reduction treaty, due on April 8.

"I know there has been a partisan breakdown in recent years, but we can renew the Senate's bipartisan tradition on arms control and approve ratification of this new treaty in 2010," the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman said.

"We can't squander this opportunity to reset both our relations with Russia and our role as the world leader on nuclear nonproliferation. This is a major commitment by both countries to reduce their nuclear arsenals and an important step in solidifying our relationship with Russia. Let's get it done."

Russia and the U.S. have already agreed to sign the treaty simultaneously in Prague. However, strong Republican opposition may delay the ratification of the treaty.

Opposition to the new arms cuts treaty also exists in Russia, where some experts are in favor of unilateral disarmament.

http://en.rian.ru

 

[nandu]

U.K. Foreign Office welcomes "historic" Russia-U.S. arms deal

The United Kingdom welcomes the new "historic" strategic arms reduction deal between Russia and the U.S., the U.K. foreign secretary said on Friday.

The agreement to replace the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) will be signed on April 8 in Prague.

"Today's historic announcement will help pave the way for further reductions. As soon as it becomes useful to do so, the UK stands ready to include our nuclear arsenal in a future multilateral disarmament process," David Miliband said in a statement.

"As the Prime Minister told President Obama when they spoke earlier this week, the UK welcomes this agreement which is an important further step towards a world free from nuclear weapons," he added.

He urged the global community to "seize the opportunity" that the new treaty creates for the forthcoming Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference, to be held in May at the UN headquarters in New York.

"That means continued efforts by all states possessing nuclear weapons to work towards their total elimination. It means concerted action from the international community to tackle countries like North Korea and Iran which seek to develop nuclear weapons in breach of their treaty commitments. And it means the safe expansion of nuclear power," the statement says.

Miliband said his country was "firmly committed" to working towards a nuclear-free world and pledged to "make further reductions wherever possible."

http://en.rian.ru

 

[Armand2REP]

Is any of that news?

 

[nandu]

Philip Crowley praises new Russia-U.S. arms reduction treaty

A U.S. State Department spokesman has praised the new arms reduction treaty Russia and the United States are to sign in April.

The Russian and U.S. leaders, Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama, agreed Friday that the new arms cuts pact will be signed on April 8 in Prague. The treaty will replace START 1, the cornerstone of a post-Cold War arms control setup, which expired on December 5, 2009.

Assistant Secretary of State Philip J. Crowley told a daily press briefing on Friday following the two presidents' phone conversation that the new pact "demonstrates the special responsibility and leadership of the United States and Russia, since we collectively have more than 90 percent of the world's nuclear weapons."

"It also demonstrates the improving and productive nature of our relationship with Russia," Crowley said.

In line with the new arms reduction agreement, the number of nuclear warheads is to be reduced to 1,550 on each side. The number of delivery vehicles - deployed and non-deployed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launchers, submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) launchers, and heavy bombers equipped for nuclear weapons - must not exceed 800 on each side.

The treaty, to have a validity term of ten years unless it is superseded by another strategic arms reduction agreement, stipulates that strategic offensive weapons are to be based solely on the national territories of Russia and the United States.

Although the deal will establish the link between missile defense and offensive weapons, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the treaty, when ratified, will not prevent the U.S. from "improving and deploying" its missile defense elements in Europe.

After the pact is signed, it has to be ratified by the Russian and U.S. parliaments in order to come into effect.

A working group session of Russia's Federation Council and the U.S. Senate to discuss the ratification of the deal will be held on April 19-21 in Washington.

http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news

 

[nandu]

Mexico hails Russia-U.S. strategic arms deal

Mexico welcomes the new strategic arms reduction deal between Russia and the U.S., the Mexican foreign ministry said in a statement.

The presidents of Russia and the U.S., Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama, agreed on Friday to sign the new arms reduction treaty in Prague on April 8 after months of negotiations.

The treaty will replace the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), the cornerstone of a post-Cold War arms control setup, which expired on December 5, 2009.

"The agreement between the two leading nuclear powers, which will be signed in Prague on April 8, will give new impetus to nuclear disarmament talks and the achievement of a world free of nuclear weapon," said the statement, the text of which was made available to RIA Novosti.

"We call on other nuclear powers to follow the example of Russia and the United States and start reducing their nuclear arsenals."

The strategic arms pact stipulates that the number of nuclear warheads is to be reduced to 1,550 on each side, while the number of delivery vehicles must not exceed 800 on each side.

Under the deal, which will have a validity term of ten years unless it is superseded by another strategic arms reduction agreement, strategic offensive weapons are to be based solely on the national territories of Russia and the United States.

The signed deal is to be ratified by the parliaments of the two states in order to come into effect.

http://en.rian.ru