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Obama promotes nuclear-free world Obama promotes nuclear-free world
(about 1 hour later)
US President Barack Obama is outlining his vision of a world free of nuclear weapons in a major speech in Europe. Barack Obama has outlined 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. The US president called 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. He said he hoped to negotiate a new treaty to end the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons.
The summit comes hours after North Korea controversially launched a rocket despite international warnings. Although his nuclear goals might not be realised in his lifetime, he said he would strive to achieve them.
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 said that as long as Iran continued to pose a potential nuclear threat, the US would continue to work on a controversial missile defence shield, parts of which would be stationed in Poland and the Czech Republic.
He was speaking ahead of a meeting with EU leaders in the Czech capital, Prague, hours after North Korea launched a rocket despite international warnings.
Mr Obama condemned the launch, saying the provocation underscored the need for action.
"Now's the time for a strong international response and North Korea must know that the path to security will never come through illegal weapons," he said.
Extermination of citiesExtermination of cities
Before Mr Obama's speech to a thousands-strong crowd in front of Prague's historic castle, the White House said his administration would work to bring the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) into force in order to achieve a global ban on nuclear testing. Speaking to a 20,000-strong crowd in front of Prague's historic castle, Mr Obama said the US had a moral responsibility to act in ridding the world of nuclear weapons.
"The existence of thousands of nuclear weapons is the most dangerous legacy of the Cold War," 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 Mark Mardell blog: Timely speech 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 Mark Mardell blog: Timely 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. "Today the Cold War has disappeared but thousands of weapons have not."
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. He pledged to reduce the US nuclear stockpile, and urged others to do the same.
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". But as long as a nuclear threat existed, the US would retain its nuclear capability, although it would work to reduce its arsenal.
He would also address issues such as the security of nuclear material and the trade in illicit weapons, he said. He said his administration would work to bring the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) into force in order to achieve a global ban on nuclear testing.
The agreement would ban all nuclear explosions for any purpose, but 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.
Mr Obama announced a new effort to secure sensitive nuclear material within four years and break down the black market in the trade in illicit weapons.
"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. He said he would negotiate a new strategic arms reduction treaty with Russia by the end of this year.
The speech came 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.
As long as the threat from Iran exists, we will go forward with a missile defence system US President Barack Obama
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.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.
Mr Obama said his administration would also seek to engage with Iran, presenting Tehran with a choice between getting access to peaceful nuclear energy, or risking isolation with its current nuclear strategy, which he said posed a clear threat.
"As long as the threat from Iran exists, we will go forward with a missile defence system," he said.
European pledgesEuropean pledges
After his speech Mr Obama will meet EU leaders to discuss issues such as climate change and energy security. His wide-ranging speech - which also touched on the need for a united approach to combat the global financial crisis and climate change - was rapturously received by the crowd.
Mr Obama is to 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.
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 after 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.