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| Obama promotes nuclear-free world | Obama promotes nuclear-free world |
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| Barack Obama has outlined 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. |
| The US president called 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. |
| He said he hoped to negotiate a new treaty to end the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons. | He said he hoped to negotiate a new treaty to end the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons. |
| North Korea's 'provocative' rocket launch earlier in the day underscored the need for action, he said. | North Korea's 'provocative' rocket launch earlier in the day underscored the need for action, he said. |
| Although his nuclear goals might not be realised in his lifetime, he said he would strive to achieve them. name="return"> class="bodl" href="#graphic"> Click here to see a diagram of nuclear warheads around the world | |
| 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. | 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. | 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: "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. | Mr Obama condemned the launch: "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 cities | Extermination of cities |
| 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. | 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. |
| As long as the threat from Iran exists, we will go forward with a missile defence system US President Barack Obama | As long as the threat from Iran exists, we will go forward with a missile defence system US President Barack Obama |
| "The existence of thousands of nuclear weapons is the most dangerous legacy of the Cold War," he said. | "The existence of thousands of nuclear weapons is the most dangerous legacy of the Cold War," he said. |
| "Today the Cold War has disappeared but thousands of weapons have not." | "Today the Cold War has disappeared but thousands of weapons have not." |
| He pledged to reduce the US nuclear stockpile, and urged others to do the same. | He pledged to reduce the US nuclear stockpile, and urged others to do the same. |
| But as long as a nuclear threat existed, the US would retain its nuclear capability, although it would work to reduce its arsenal. | But as long as a nuclear threat existed, the US would retain its nuclear capability, although it would work to reduce its arsenal. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Massive destruction | Massive destruction |
| The most immediate and extreme threat to global security, the president said, was the possibility of terrorists possessing nuclear weapons. | The most immediate and extreme threat to global security, the president said, was the possibility of terrorists possessing nuclear weapons. |
| "One terrorist with a nuclear weapon could unleash massive destruction," he said. | "One terrorist with a nuclear weapon could unleash massive destruction," he said. |
| OBAMA'S TRANSATLANTIC VISIT 2 April: G20 summit in London3 April: Obama meets Sarkozy in France and Merkel in Germany4 April: Leaders hold Nato summit 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 2 April: G20 summit in London3 April: Obama meets Sarkozy in France and Merkel in Germany4 April: Leaders hold Nato summit 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 |
| "Al-Qaeda has said it seeks a bomb. And that it would have no problem in using it. And we know that there is unsecured nuclear material across the globe." | "Al-Qaeda has said it seeks a bomb. And that it would have no problem in using it. And we know that there is unsecured nuclear material across the globe." |
| 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. | 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. |
| He also said he would negotiate a new strategic arms reduction treaty with Russia by the end of this year. | He also 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. | "As long as the threat from Iran exists, we will go forward with a missile defence system," he said. |
| European pledges | European pledges |
| 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. | 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. |
| The Obamas received a warm welcome from the Prague crowd | The Obamas received a warm welcome from the Prague crowd |
| Mr Obama is to meet EU leaders to discuss issues such as climate change and energy security. | 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. | 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 after 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. |
| STRATEGIC NUCLEAR WARHEADS AROUND THE WORLD All numbers are estimates because exact numbers are top secret. Strategic nuclear warheads are designed to target cities, missile locations and military headquarters as part of a strategic plan. Israel Israeli authorities have never confirmed or denied the country has nuclear weapons. North Korea The highly secretive state claims it has nuclear weapons, but there is no information in the public domain that proves this. Iran The International Atomic Energy Agency reported in 2003 there had been covert nuclear activity to make fissile material and continues to monitor Tehran's nuclear program. Syria US officials have claimed it is covertly seeking nuclear weapons. | STRATEGIC NUCLEAR WARHEADS AROUND THE WORLD All numbers are estimates because exact numbers are top secret. Strategic nuclear warheads are designed to target cities, missile locations and military headquarters as part of a strategic plan. Israel Israeli authorities have never confirmed or denied the country has nuclear weapons. North Korea The highly secretive state claims it has nuclear weapons, but there is no information in the public domain that proves this. Iran The International Atomic Energy Agency reported in 2003 there had been covert nuclear activity to make fissile material and continues to monitor Tehran's nuclear program. Syria US officials have claimed it is covertly seeking nuclear weapons. |
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