Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev promise nuclear arsenal deal by end of year
'Fresh start' for US-Russia relations as Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev pledge weapon cuts
- guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 1 April 2009 15.31 BST
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Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev meet ahead of the G20 summit in London to discuss nuclear disarmament. Photograph: Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP
Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev have pledged to agree cuts in their countries' nuclear arsenals by December this year, as part of a "fresh start" in US-Russian relations and a step towards "a nuclear free world".
After a meeting between the two men in London, on the eve of the G20 summit, President Obama also accepted an invitation to fly to Moscow in July, by which time both sides hope negotiators from both countries will have worked out an arms control deal to replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (Start) which expires on 5 December. The negotiators were told to begin work at once.
There were no specific figures in the statements issued after the meeting at Winfield House, the US embassy residence, but the two leaders agreed that the new deal would go further than the Moscow treaty that their predecessors, George Bush and Vladimir Putin, agreed in 2002. The treaty stipulates operationally deployed (ready to fire) arsenals of 1,700-2,200 warheads, suggesting the goal of a new treaty would be to go below 1,700, and a target figure mentioned as a possibility by both sides is 1,500 warheads each.
In fact any new deal is likely to be far stricter than the Moscow treaty, which was full of holes in arms control terms. It did not apply to non-operational stockpiles, so each side could comply by simply mothballing warheads rather than destroying them. There were also no verification mechanisms, which give most disarmament treaties their teeth, and either side could pull out with only three months' notice. The new deal will be "comprehensive" and "legally binding".
It was the first meeting between the two men, and they appeared to get on well. One Russian official said: "It was very positive, and it lasted longer than envisaged. I saw both presidents during and after and they both seemed happy."
The leaders issued two statements after the meeting, held on the eve of the G20 summit. One was a short factual account of the nuclear disarmament plans. The second was a much more discursive (1,500-word) appraisal of all aspects of US-Russian relations, mostly noting areas of agreement.
"We, the leaders of Russia and the United States, are ready to move beyond cold war mentalities and chart a fresh start in relations between our two countries," the statement said. "In just a few months we have worked hard to establish a new tone in our relations. Now it is time to get down to business and translate our warm words into actual achievements of benefit to Russia, the United States, and all those around the world interested in peace and prosperity."
It acknowledged that there were still differences over US plans to build a missile defence system that would include interceptors and radar in eastern Europe. The US says the system is intended to defend the west against future Iranian missiles, while the Russians believe it blunts their own nuclear deterrent. The leaders hinted at a compromise, saying they "discussed new possibilities for mutual international co-operation in the field of missile defence, taking into account joint assessments of missile challenges and threats, aimed at enhancing the security of our countries, and that of our allies and partners". The wording suggested that Obama and Medvedev could be prepared to think creatively to find a way out of the impasse that has threatened to paralyse the relationship in recent years, perhaps including Russia in some form of joint scheme.
They agreed to disagree about the causes of last August's Russian-Georgian war, but committed themselves to further diplomacy aimed at stabilising the Caucasus region. And over Iran, another divisive issue, Russia appears to have won the argument for now. There was a joint call for Iran to abide by UN security council resolutions and suspend enrichment of uranium, but no threat of new sanctions, which Russia opposes.
The new relationship, for the time being, is to be built around nuclear disarmament, which Obama said was a "good place to start" to reinvigorate a relationship he argued had been allowed to "drift" in recent years. The driving force behind the new deal is not just the imminent expiry of Start in December, but also the looming review of the non proliferation treaty (NPT) next year, at a time when Iran could be close to joining the nuclear club, and other Middle Eastern countries are consequently weighing their nuclear options.
Obama described the NPT as threadbare, and the joint statement said they wanted "to demonstrate leadership in reducing the number of nuclear weapons in the world", to give the nuclear powers more leverage in talks with disgruntled non-nuclear states in talks over the coming year.
"We committed our two countries to achieving a nuclear-free world, while recognising that this long-term goal will require a new emphasis on arms control and conflict resolution measures, and their full implementation by all concerned nations," the joint statement said.
Obama & Medvedev find middle ground in London
02 April, 2009, 02:34
The first ever eye-to-eye meeting between Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama has shown there are signs of thawing in Russia-US relations and that the two states are ready to “push the reset button”.
The leaders have agreed to immediately start work on a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in order to sign it by the end the year.
It would replace the 1991 treaty, which resulted in the largest ever bilateral cuts in nuclear weapons. That treaty is due to expire on December 5, 2009.
The meeting between the Russian and American presidents took place on the eve of the G20 summit in London and was undoubtedly one of the most anticipated of the many bilateral talks scheduled.
Medvedev said: “I agree that in recent years our relations grew more difficult. To a certain extent they were drifting, just like the President said right now, in the wrong direction. The relations were degrading. And it was not to the benefit of the USA or Russia, or for the world situation. We’ve agreed that we’ll do our best to restart these relations, to start a new page.”
After the 90-minute meeting at Whitfield House, the US embassy residence, the Russian President said the leaders discussed “almost all the issues important to us, including the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, reducing strategic arms, cooperation in counter-terrorism and restoring global financial stability”.
“This is just the beginning of our talks, but we understand we have much more in common than that which separates us. I agree with President Obama that our teams did a good job in a number of declarations and in reshaping the general frameworks of our relations,” he said.
The presidents issued a joint statement following their meeting which said they were ready to move beyond the Cold War mentality and take relations between the two countries to a new level. However, disagreements remain.
For instance, last year’s conflict in the Caucasus when Georgia attacked South Ossetia was brought up at the meeting. The two leaders disagree “about the causes and sequence of the military actions of last August” but agreed that they must continue “efforts toward a peaceful and lasting solution to the unstable situation today.”
A stumbling block in Russia-U.S. relations – Washington’s plans to deploy its missile defence shield in Europe – was also touched upon. The two sides, according to the statement, acknowledge that differences remain over the purposes of deployment of missile defense assets. The presidents, however, “discussed new possibilities for mutual international cooperation in the field of missile defense…”.
The US said both sides should speed up work to make sure that Russia joins the World Trade Organization as soon as possible. This can be seen as a very positive sign for the Kremlin, as Moscow has been trying to negotiate the terms of entry to the WTO since the early 1990s.
I'll learn Russian – Obama
Barack Obama accepted Dmitry Medvedev’s invitation to visit Moscow in July this year, noting that would be “Better than in January.”
“I will be glad to see the President and members of his team in Russia in July this year. It is really the warmest month in Russia. I hope it will reflect the character of the conversations we’ll have then,” Medvedev said.
The presidents had no time to answer journalists’ questions. However, Barack Obama thanked the ITAR-TASS correspondent for a question on the general atmosphere of the meeting and whether the two presidents were joking today, on April Fools’ Day. He said ‘spasibo’, which means “thank you” in Russian. And added in English: “I promise I’ll learn Russian”.
Queen hosts leaders ahead of tough talks
The G20 summit begins on Thursday. However, before the heads of state attempt to try to resolve the global crisis, world leaders have gathered for a Royal dinner as Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has received guests at Buckingham Palace.
One family, however, was honoured with a private audience with the Queen. Barak Obama and his wife Michelle had tea with the Queen during a 20-minute meeting.
According to reports, the U.S. first lady was briefed on the particulars of royal etiquette by the State Department and White House officials prior to the meeting.
Concerning the menu, the dinner itself will take place at Downing Street and a special menu will be served by British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, best known for his TV cooking shows.
Watch the Queen hosting G20 leaders
The leaders have opposing views on how to tackle the credit crisis: some favour economic stimulus while others favour economic regulation. In any case there is, so far, no consensus on what to do.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, playing host to these talks, is very optimistic about what they can achieve.
"We are within a few hours of agreeing on a global plan for economic recovery and reform," the prime minister said.
“Financial fools”
However, the leaders are already targets for public ridicule and demonstrations on London’s streets as protesters, using the April Fools’ day theme, labelled the gathering “Financial fools”.
Also, fears continue that this event will go down in history for the street protests and the disagreements among the participants.
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