Progress on START means common opinion on new treaty: expert

Russia and the United States have rather advanced in discussion of a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty and agreed to make every effort to complete work on schedule, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a news conference in Moscow on Tuesday after the talks with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

"We have rather advanced," Lavrov said.

He stressed that the parties have discussed the issues to be agreed and requiring further study. They agreed to continue efforts to complete this work on schedule, i.e, in December 2009.

After reduction of nuclear warheads upon a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, about 1,500 units should remain at least, the commander of Russian Strategic Missile Forces Nikolai Solovtsov said, BBC reported.

Russian media reported about preparations for development of a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty in Dec. 2008 - Jan. 2009.

Nevertheless, there was no specific information about its intended content.

Stivachtis does not think that "collaborate closely on missile defense" means the introduction of a new and more technologically developed missile defense system.

The reason simply is that  the existence of any missile defense system, according to Russia, goes against the logic and principles of deterrence and therefore Russia is against any policy or means that would undermine deterrence, Director of the International Studies Program at Virginia Tech (USA), Stivachtis, told Trend News via E-mail.

The Russian Government has been adamant and clear on this issue, expert said.

Hillary Clinton perhaps meant finding a way to protect vital interests related to U.S and international security with Russia's collaboration, he said.

The United States familiarized Russia with the concept of a new assessment of threats posed by Iran, and looks forward to cooperate with Moscow on anti-missile defense system, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, said.

"We described foundation of our assessment of the threat to the minister and other officials at a meeting.  We have shared this concept with our Russian counterparts. Now our experts will specify the details. We would like the United States and Russia to cooperate closely on anti-missile defense system," Clinton said at a news conference after the talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

/Trend News/