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US and Russia seek 2009 arms deal US and Russia seek 2009 arms deal
(about 1 hour later)
The US and Russia say they will try to clinch a new strategic arms reduction treaty (Start) by the end of 2009.The US and Russia say they will try to clinch a new strategic arms reduction treaty (Start) by the end of 2009.
"This is of the highest priority to our governments," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, after talks with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov."This is of the highest priority to our governments," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, after talks with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
In turn, Mr Lavrov described the current Start treaty - due to expire at the end of this year - as "obsolete".In turn, Mr Lavrov described the current Start treaty - due to expire at the end of this year - as "obsolete".
Mrs Clinton earlier said the Washington was keen to "reset" its ties with Moscow to end months of cool relations.Mrs Clinton earlier said the Washington was keen to "reset" its ties with Moscow to end months of cool relations.
After the talks in Geneva, Mrs Clinton and Mr Lavrov said the two sides had agreed to work together on a number of issues of common and world interest, but admitted that differences in their positions remained. Start 1, which limited the deployment of nuclear warheads to 6,000 per side along with 1,600 missiles and bombers, runs out in December this year.
It was followed by Start 2 which brought warheads down to 3,500.
Mock button
After the talks in Geneva, Mrs Clinton and Mr Lavrov also said the two sides had agreed to work together on a number of issues of common and world interest, including Afghanistan, the Middle East and North Korea.
There was a rather confrontational approach towards Russia in the prior [US] administration Hillary Clinton Pressing the US-Russia reset button
But the two diplomats admitted that differences in their positions remained.
Mrs Clinton said the relationship between the two countries needed "more trust, predictability and progress".Mrs Clinton said the relationship between the two countries needed "more trust, predictability and progress".
The two top diplomats also said they had discussed a number of issues of particular concern, including Afghanistan, the Middle East and North Korea.
Before the talks with Mr Lavrov began, Mrs Clinton gave him a mock "reset" button, as a symbol of Washington's desire to start afresh with Moscow.Before the talks with Mr Lavrov began, Mrs Clinton gave him a mock "reset" button, as a symbol of Washington's desire to start afresh with Moscow.
Disagreements No veto power
Speaking earlier in Brussels, Mrs Clinton said President Barack Obama's re-engagement with Russia did not mean Washington was giving way in its support for its allies.Speaking earlier in Brussels, Mrs Clinton said President Barack Obama's re-engagement with Russia did not mean Washington was giving way in its support for its allies.
Mrs Clinton had a busy schedule in Europe Clinton 'thrilled' with EU meetings
"We're going to press the reset button," she told the BBC's Europe editor Mark Mardell."We're going to press the reset button," she told the BBC's Europe editor Mark Mardell.
"We have a long list, on both sides, of matters [where] we're going to try to seek some areas of co-operation."We have a long list, on both sides, of matters [where] we're going to try to seek some areas of co-operation.
"Our efforts against terrorism, our efforts on behalf of arms control and non proliferation. Discuss areas where we think that we've got to understand each other better and try to eliminate the friction - energy security, climate change, things like that.
"But," she added, "there are areas where we just flat out disagree, and we're not going to paper those over."But," she added, "there are areas where we just flat out disagree, and we're not going to paper those over.
There was a rather confrontational approach towards Russia in the prior [US] administration Hillary Clinton Pressing the US-Russia reset button
"We will not recognise the breakaway regions of Georgia, we do not recognise any sphere of influence on the part of Russia, and their having some sort of veto power over who can join the EU or Nato.""We will not recognise the breakaway regions of Georgia, we do not recognise any sphere of influence on the part of Russia, and their having some sort of veto power over who can join the EU or Nato."
As with Russia, so with Iran and Syria - the hand of friendship is being proffered in a very obvious, high-profile way Mark Mardell, BBC Europe Editor Blog: Young Europeans quiz Clinton
On Thursday, Nato agreed to resume high-level contacts with Russia, especially regarding co-operation over the Nato mission in Afghanistan.On Thursday, Nato agreed to resume high-level contacts with Russia, especially regarding co-operation over the Nato mission in Afghanistan.
Relations between the two nations have deteriorated in recent years over Russia's role in the war in Georgia, American support for the entry of Georgia and Ukraine to Nato, and the planned US missile shield based in central Europe.Relations between the two nations have deteriorated in recent years over Russia's role in the war in Georgia, American support for the entry of Georgia and Ukraine to Nato, and the planned US missile shield based in central Europe.
Mrs Clinton placed some of the blame for that deterioration on the preceding US government of President George W Bush. But the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Moscow says the situation is now very different, with Russia in less of a mood to be belligerent.
"There was a rather confrontational approach towards Russia in the prior administration. How much that contributed to Russian behaviour I think is a legitimate question to ask," she said.
Russia needs friends
Mr Obama said this week that he had sent a letter to Moscow linking Washington's missile defence shield with Russia's approach to Iran.
As with Russia, so with Iran and Syria - the hand of friendship is being proffered in a very obvious, high-profile way Mark Mardell, BBC Europe Editor Blog: Young Europeans quiz Clinton The US argument is that if Russia helps prevent Iran gaining nuclear weapons, there will be no need for the US to build its European missile shield, which Russia opposes vehemently.
Iran denies it is seeking nuclear weapons.
A Russian foreign ministry spokesman was quoted earlier on Friday saying Russia looked forward to the talks "with cautious optimism".
It is very different from a few months ago, when Russia was blaming America for everything from the global financial crisis to the war in Georgia, says the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Moscow.
Russia is now in less of a mood to be belligerent, he says.
The financial crisis has left its economy severely battered, and right now it needs friends and investment, not a new cold war.The financial crisis has left its economy severely battered, and right now it needs friends and investment, not a new cold war.
Earlier Mrs Clinton visited the European Union, where she was greeted by Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering.
She took questions from an audience of students and young people from EU and political institutions across Europe.