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US and Russia seek 2009 arms deal US and Russia seek 2009 arms deal
(1 day 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," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, after talks in Geneva 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 by 5 December - 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 Washington was keen to re-launch its ties with Moscow to end months of cool relations.
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. Start 1 limited the deployment of nuclear warheads to 6,000 per side, along with 1,600 missiles and bombers.
It was followed by Start 2 which brought warheads down to 3,500.It was followed by Start 2 which brought warheads down to 3,500.
Mock button Mrs Clinton and Mr Lavrov 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.
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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7929689.stm">Necessity pushes two sides closer class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7926096.stm">Pressing the US-Russia reset button
There was a rather confrontational approach towards Russia in the prior [US] administration Hillary Clinton Necessity pushes US and Russia closerPressing the US-Russia reset button
But the two diplomats admitted that differences in their positions remained.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".
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. After the talks, Mr Lavrov later told the 65-nation UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva: "The right moment has come, for the first time since the end of the Cold War, for making real progress in resuming the global disarmament process on a broad agenda."
No veto power The BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva says agreement on the need for a new deal to cut warheads and delivery systems by the end of this year is the easiest disarmament move the two sides can make at this point.
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. Other more divisive issues remain, says our correspondent, such as Washington's plan for a missile defence shield in Eastern Europe - Moscow strongly objects to this.
Clinton 'thrilled' with EU meetingsClinton 'thrilled' with EU meetings
"We're going to press the reset button," she told the BBC's Europe editor Mark Mardell. But, Sergei Lavrov said, talks are continuing on this too, and compromise might be possible.
"We have a long list, on both sides, of matters [where] we're going to try to seek some areas of co-operation. Our correspondent says it is at least a sign the UN disarmament process, in stalemate for so long, is now moving again, amid warming relations between Moscow and Washington.
"But," she added, "there are areas where we just flat out disagree, and we're not going to paper those over.
"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 US and Russia 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.
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.
The financial crisis has left its economy severely battered, and right now it needs friends and investment, not a new cold war.