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Lugar urges quick action in 2009 on Russia-US nukes
Moscow (AFP) Dec 17, 2008 Senator Richard Lugar, a veteran of US-Russian arms control efforts, on Wednesday urged Russia and the United States to get to work replacing a key arms treaty that expires next December. It was vital to make a "running start" in talks to replace the START 1 treaty, which was brokered between the United States and Soviet Union and brought about big reductions in nuclear arsenals, Lugar said. "We really have to come to grips with the fact that the world depends upon our having a continuation of the START treaty," said Lugar at a forum in Moscow focused on further reducing stocks in the world's two largest nuclear arsenals. Lugar said his Moscow trip was intended to find out "what's on the minds of the Russian leadership" and report back to the new administration of president-elect Barack Obama. His visit, in which he is to meet Russian officials including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the head of the Rosatom state nuclear company, came after US and Russian officials failed to make a breakthrough in preliminary talks this week on replacing the START 1 treaty. The treaty expires next December and Russia has called for work to replace it, despite tensions over plans by President George W. Bush's administration for missile defence facilities in central Europe. Lugar rejected the idea of a new Cold War emerging between the West and Russia, saying that on the contrary he expected calmer relations after Obama takes office in January. "My general prediction would be we will have a period of time in which there could be a calming and I hope we'll take advantage of that," he told reporters. Lugar nonetheless recalled a 2005 incident in which he and Obama were briefly detained by Russian agents at an airport in the Urals city of Perm while on an arms reduction visit. "Due to official foul-ups some Russians felt we had a spy plane.... Poor Barack and I were held hostage after what otherwise would have been a delightful celebration" of nuclear disarmament steps, said Lugar. Related Links Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Global foreign policy leaders launch bid to eliminate nuclear arms
Paris (AFP) Dec 9, 2008One hundred political, military, business and civic leaders from across the globe launched a new initiative in Paris on Tuesday aiming eliminate all nuclear weapons. |
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