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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Obama promotes nuclear-free world | Obama promotes nuclear-free world |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama is to outline his vision of a world free of nuclear weapons in a major speech in Europe. | US President Barack Obama is to outline his vision of a world free of nuclear weapons in a major speech in Europe. |
| He is expected to call for a global summit on nuclear security and the forging of new partnerships to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. | He is expected to call for a global summit on nuclear security and the forging of new partnerships to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. |
| Proliferation is top of the agenda at a summit Mr Obama is attending with EU leaders in the Czech capital, Prague. | Proliferation is top of the agenda at a summit Mr Obama is attending with EU leaders in the Czech capital, Prague. |
| The summit comes hours after North Korea controversially launched a rocket despite international warnings. | The summit comes hours after North Korea controversially launched a rocket despite international warnings. |
| Mr Obama condemned the launch, saying that North Korea had further isolated itself from the community of nations, and should refrain from further "provocative" actions. | Mr Obama condemned the launch, saying that North Korea had further isolated itself from the community of nations, and should refrain from further "provocative" actions. |
| "To achieve a global ban on nuclear testing, the Obama Administration will work to bring the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) into force," the White House said in a statement issued before Mr Obama's speech. | "To achieve a global ban on nuclear testing, the Obama Administration will work to bring the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) into force," the White House said in a statement issued before Mr Obama's speech. |
| It added that Mr Obama would also seek Senate ratification of the CTBT - an agreement that would ban all nuclear explosions for any purpose - which cannot currently come into effect as nuclear powers such as the US and China have not ratified it, and India and Pakistan have not signed it. | It added that Mr Obama would also seek Senate ratification of the CTBT - an agreement that would ban all nuclear explosions for any purpose - which cannot currently come into effect as nuclear powers such as the US and China have not ratified it, and India and Pakistan have not signed it. |
| In his speech, Mr Obama is also expected to seek to negotiate a new international treaty that "verifiably ends the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons," the statement said. | In his speech, Mr Obama is also expected to seek to negotiate a new international treaty that "verifiably ends the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons," the statement said. |
| Extermination of cities | Extermination of cities |
| Speaking in Strasbourg on Friday, the US president said he would "lay out an agenda to seek the goal of a world without nuclear weapons". | Speaking in Strasbourg on Friday, the US president said he would "lay out an agenda to seek the goal of a world without nuclear weapons". |
| He would also address issues such as the security of nuclear material and the trade in illicit weapons, he said. | He would also address issues such as the security of nuclear material and the trade in illicit weapons, he said. |
| OBAMA'S TRANSATLANTIC VISIT 3 April: Obama meets Sarkozy in France and Merkel in Germany4 April: Leaders walk across the Rhine and hold North Atlantic Council meeting in Strasbourg5 April: Obama in Prague for US-EU summit6-7 April: Obama visits Turkey The Obama effect reaches Nato class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/2009/04/timely_speech.html"> Mark Mardell blog: Timely speech | |
| "Even with the Cold War over, the spread of nuclear weapons or the theft of nuclear material could lead to the extermination of any city on the planet," Mr Obama said. | "Even with the Cold War over, the spread of nuclear weapons or the theft of nuclear material could lead to the extermination of any city on the planet," Mr Obama said. |
| His speech comes days after he and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev - meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in London - agreed to reopen negotiations about reducing nuclear warheads. | His speech comes days after he and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev - meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in London - agreed to reopen negotiations about reducing nuclear warheads. |
| They aim to produce a new arms control treaty to replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (Start) that expires at the end of the year. | They aim to produce a new arms control treaty to replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (Start) that expires at the end of the year. |
| Under Mr Obama's predecessor, George W Bush, tensions arose between the two sides over the US plan for a missile defence shield, parts of which would be stationed in Poland and the Czech Republic. | |
| The new US administration is currently reviewing the plans, which are meant to counter nuclear attacks from countries like Iran and North Korea but which Moscow sees as a threat. | The new US administration is currently reviewing the plans, which are meant to counter nuclear attacks from countries like Iran and North Korea but which Moscow sees as a threat. |
| European pledges | European pledges |
| After his speech Mr Obama will meet EU leaders to discuss issues such as climate change and energy security. | After his speech Mr Obama will meet EU leaders to discuss issues such as climate change and energy security. |
| He will then fly to Turkey for the final stop of his European tour. | He will then fly to Turkey for the final stop of his European tour. |
| The US president arrived in Prague late on Saturday from the Nato summit in Strasbourg, where he secured pledges from European nations to send more troops to Afghanistan to provide security for elections in August. | The US president arrived in Prague late on Saturday from the Nato summit in Strasbourg, where he secured pledges from European nations to send more troops to Afghanistan to provide security for elections in August. |
| Ahead of his arrival several hundred people gathered in Prague to protest against the missile shield. Further protests are expected on Sunday. | Ahead of his arrival several hundred people gathered in Prague to protest against the missile shield. Further protests are expected on Sunday. |
| Mr Obama's first trip to Eastern Europe, 20 years since the end of the Cold War, was supposed to be the highlight of the Czech presidency of the EU. | Mr Obama's first trip to Eastern Europe, 20 years since the end of the Cold War, was supposed to be the highlight of the Czech presidency of the EU. |
| But his official engagements there have been scaled down in the wake of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's resignation late last month, after losing a no-confidence motion. | But his official engagements there have been scaled down in the wake of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's resignation late last month, after losing a no-confidence motion. |
| Mr Topolanek - who has also described Mr Obama's stimulus plan as "the road to hell" - will remain in office until a new cabinet is appointed or fresh elections are held. | Mr Topolanek - who has also described Mr Obama's stimulus plan as "the road to hell" - will remain in office until a new cabinet is appointed or fresh elections are held. |