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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 the monitoring applied within narrow limits to do with national security. It had detected 50 potential threats and saved many lives, he emphasised. | |
"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. |
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. |
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". | |
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. |