LOC23:28
20:28 GMT
(With POL-RUSSIA-US-START
MOSCOW, Dec 24 (KUNA) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday called
the new START a "cornerstone" for Europe's security for the coming decades.
Speaking warmly of US President Barack Obama, Medvedev said in a televised
appearance "under very difficult circumstances, he (Obama) managed to make the
Senate ratify this document."
The new START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty), is a follow-up to the 1991
START I treaty, which expired in December 2009, START II and the 2002 Treaty
of Moscow (SORT) due to expire in December 2012, which would reduces the
number of operationally-inactive stockpile of nuclear warheads at both
superpowers to 1,550 warheads each.
"Obama is a man who knows how to hear and to listen. A man who lives up to
this standard, as he keeps his word," Medvedev pointed out.
He made the comments during a televised question-and-answer session with
the heads of Russia's three leading television stations.
The Russian Parliament, which was waiting for the treaty to be ratified by
the US Senate, held a first reading of a ratification bill earlier today. The
bill will need to pass three readings by the Duma, the lower house of
parliament, a process that will continue at least through the end of January.
(end)
as.hb
KUNA 242328 Dec 10NNNN