Medvedev and Obama hold 'constructive' talk on nuclear arms reduction treaty process
09:29 GMT, January 28, 2010 MOSCOW | Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama held on Wednesday a "constructive and friendly" phone conversation about a new nuclear arms reduction treaty, the Kremlin said, according to RIA Novosti.
"The two presidents discussed in detail current issues of Russian-American relations, including the prospects for completing in the near future work on the new strategic offensive arms treaty," the Kremlin.ru website said.
"The discussion was held in the constructive and friendly manner that has become usual for top-level contacts between the two parties," the statement went on, adding that the telephone conversation was initiated by the U.S.
A new document to replace the START 1 treaty, which expired on December 5, has not been signed yet over disagreements on verification and control arrangements to be included in the document.
Medvedev said on Sunday the new arms cuts pact with the United States was "95%" agreed on.
The new treaty's outline, as agreed by the Russian and U.S. presidents, includes cutting nuclear arsenals to 1,500-1,675 operational warheads and delivery vehicles to 500-1,000.
Medvedev and Obama pledged at their first meeting in April 2009 to replace the START I treaty as part of broader efforts to "reset" bilateral ties strained in recent years.
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