Medvedev, Obama agree on talks on binding arms reductions

LONDON. April 2. KAZINFORM Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and US President Barack Obama have made a decision in favor of entering into inter-government talks on drafting a full-format legally binding agreement on the reduction of strategic offensive arms with the aim to ensure its adoption by December.

The decision is contained in a joint statement by the two heads of state concerning future talks on further reductions of strategic offensive arms. The two leaders instructed the negotiators to report progress in the work on a new START by July. Medvedev said he is optimistic over the development of Russian-U.S. relations. Obama said he is convinced that U.S.-Russian relations ?will not drift?. Presidents of Russia and the United States said they agreed to continue the six-party talks on North Korea?s nuclear programme. Medvedev and Obama said Pyongyang?s launch of a ballistic missile could cause damage to peace and stability in the region. Obama said he would have his next meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow in July. Medvedev said he would be glad to see Obama in Moscow. The Russian president said he believes that this would be a good opportunity members of the two presidents to meet and get acquainted, Kazinform cites ITAR-TASS.