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Obama 'to call for' US-Russia nuclear weapons cuts Obama 'to call for' US-Russia nuclear weapons cuts
(about 1 hour later)
US President Barack Obama is to use his public speech in Berlin to propose cuts of one-third in American and Russian nuclear arsenals, US officials say.US President Barack Obama is to use his public speech in Berlin to propose cuts of one-third in American and Russian nuclear arsenals, US officials say.
They say he will also call for reductions in the number of tactical warheads deployed in Europe.They say he will also call for reductions in the number of tactical warheads deployed in Europe.
He met Chancellor Angela Merkel, who criticised the broad scope of the US surveillance programme known as Prism.He met Chancellor Angela Merkel, who criticised the broad scope of the US surveillance programme known as Prism.
Mr Obama's visit comes after G8 leaders backed calls for holding Syrian peace talks in Geneva "as soon as possible".Mr Obama's visit comes after G8 leaders backed calls for holding Syrian peace talks in Geneva "as soon as possible".
'Call to action''Call to action'
This is Mr Obama's first visit to Berlin as American president.This is Mr Obama's first visit to Berlin as American president.
US officials say he will seek cuts in US and Russian nuclear arsenals of one-third from the levels agreed in the New Start treaty in 2010.US officials say he will seek cuts in US and Russian nuclear arsenals of one-third from the levels agreed in the New Start treaty in 2010.
Under New Start, each side is allowed a maximum of 1,550 warheads and no more than 700 deployed launchers.Under New Start, each side is allowed a maximum of 1,550 warheads and no more than 700 deployed launchers.
The new limit on delivery systems is less than half the ceiling of 1,600 specified in the original Start treaty from 1991.The new limit on delivery systems is less than half the ceiling of 1,600 specified in the original Start treaty from 1991.
Mr Obama also wants to reduce the number of tactical nuclear weapons deployed in Europe - a move Russia has resisted in the past.Mr Obama also wants to reduce the number of tactical nuclear weapons deployed in Europe - a move Russia has resisted in the past.
Such weapons are not covered by existing treaties.Such weapons are not covered by existing treaties.
Mrs Merkel criticised US phone and internet surveillance programmes, saying: "We do see the need for gathering information, but there is a need for due diligence and proportionality."Mrs Merkel criticised US phone and internet surveillance programmes, saying: "We do see the need for gathering information, but there is a need for due diligence and proportionality."
The chancellor grew up in Communist East Germany, where police surveillance was widespread.
She acknowledged that the internet "enables enemies of a free liberal order to use and abuse and bring threats to all of us", but "an equitable balance must be struck".She acknowledged that the internet "enables enemies of a free liberal order to use and abuse and bring threats to all of us", but "an equitable balance must be struck".
Mr Obama said he was confident that the US had struck the appropriate balance between intelligence-gathering and civil liberties. Mr Obama said the monitoring applied within narrow limits to do with national security. It had detected 50 potential threats and saved many lives, he emphasised.
He said the surveillance programmes applied within narrow limits to do with national security.
"This is not a situation where we simply go into the internet and begin searching any way we want," he told a news conference in Berlin."This is not a situation where we simply go into the internet and begin searching any way we want," he told a news conference in Berlin.
Speaking about the Syrian conflict, Mr Obama said the US was confident that the Syrian government had used chemical weapons during the 26-month-old conflict, but refused to spell out what aid might go the rebels.
"I cannot and will not comment on specifics on our programmes related to the Syrian opposition," he said, stressing his support for a political transition.
Mr Obama's address to students and government officials at the Brandenburg Gate comes almost 50 years after John F Kennedy's celebrated "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech.Mr Obama's address to students and government officials at the Brandenburg Gate comes almost 50 years after John F Kennedy's celebrated "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech.
In his speech at the Brandenburg Gate, Mr Obama is expected to make what US officials describe as "a call to action", for the West to engage in major global issues. He is expected to make what US officials describe as "a call to action", for the West to engage in major global issues.
He is also likely to speak in detail about ways of promoting democracy and ending conflicts as well as tackling climate change and nuclear proliferation.He is also likely to speak in detail about ways of promoting democracy and ending conflicts as well as tackling climate change and nuclear proliferation.
The head of America's electronic spying agency, Gen Keith Alexander, said on Tuesday that the programmes had helped thwart 50 attacks since 2001. When Mr Obama was last in Berlin in 2008, he spoke to an estimated 200,000 people about America's "mistakes" and how the Afghan people needed "support to defeat the Taliban".
When Mr Obama was last in Berlin in 2008, he spoke to ecstatic thousands of America's "mistakes" and how the Afghan people needed "support to defeat the Taliban".
He may now take the opportunity to explain why he has ordered peace talks with the enemy America has fought for 10 years, says the BBC's North American editor Mark Mardell.He may now take the opportunity to explain why he has ordered peace talks with the enemy America has fought for 10 years, says the BBC's North American editor Mark Mardell.
After the G8 meeting in Northern Ireland, President Obama described the planned Taliban talks as "a very early step" towards reconciliation in Afghanistan.After the G8 meeting in Northern Ireland, President Obama described the planned Taliban talks as "a very early step" towards reconciliation in Afghanistan.
Mr Obama did not comment on the summit's communique on Syria. Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes acknowledged that there were "difficulties ahead" in resolving the issue.
But speaking to reporters on the flight to Germany, Mr Rhodes added: "Given the various ways the G8 could have gone, we believe that on the key issues of political transition, humanitarian support and chemical weapons investigation, it's very helpful to have this type of signal sent by these eight countries".
UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who hosted the summit in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, said the G8 managed "to overcome fundamental differences" on the raging Syrian conflict.
However, no timetable for the Geneva talks was given, and the G8 communique did not mention what role Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could play in the future.
This remains a key stumbling block, with Russia backing President Assad, while the US and its European allies are supporting the rebels.
The communique is largely a reaffirmation of what was said at the Geneva Conference in June 2012, reports the BBC's Jonathan Marcus at the summit in Enniskillen.