|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
By Category |
 |
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
India On Media |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| Politics
News |
|
| US and Russia unlikely to sign STAR |
| US and Russia unlikely to sign START this year
|
| UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
, 17-December-2009
1:59:2 AM |
|
With the US and Russia yet to sort out their differences, a senior Obama Administration official on Thursday said the agreement on Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) between the two countries is unlikely to be reached by the end of the year.
Both Washington and Moscow had earlier set the deadline of reaching an agreement by the end of the year, but this is most likely not to happen now.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a State Department official told reporters that US officials, involved in the negotiations, "expect that the START talks are powering right through the weekend, they are going to go right up to Christmas (then) breaking for the holidays and coming back in January."
The official confirmed that the agreement is not going to be signed between the two countries at Copenhagen later this week, on the sidelines of the Climate Change Summit, which would be attended by US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev.
The two leaders are, however, expected to meet in Copenhagen on the sidelines of the summit, he said.
"We are not expecting the (START) deal before the end of the year," he said.
Such a remark from the State Department official comes a day after Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs PJ Crowley said the goal was to sign the deal before the end of the year.
"I think we're getting very close to an agreement," Crowley told reporters on Tuesday.
"Whether we can cross the finish line sooner, later -- I think obviously, our focus is on getting the right agreement that meets our concerns and our interests, and obviously, those of Russia as well," he said.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ADVERTISEMENTS
Free offer!!! Become an administrator for your zip home page, "Post" local news (local to your postcode)& pictures, "Post" advertisement banners from local companies. Make Extra money.
|
 |
 |
|
|
| |
|
