Obama and Medvedev to meet

U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will meet in Prague April 8 to sign a historic treaty pledging to cut the nuclear stockpiles of the world's two leading atomic states, though U.S. plans for a missile-defense system in Europe remain a sore point between the two countries.

"This meeting symbolizes the process of new relations between Russia and the United States and is considered a huge international event and a major contribution to the process of disarmament," said Vladimir Fedorov, spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Prague.

"The decision to hold the meeting in Prague was based on the mutual agreement of the two presidents," he said.

Prague was also the site of an April 5, 2009, speech by Obama calling for a worldwide effort to end the use of nuclear weapons.

The 10-year treaty supersedes the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) of 1991, which expired in December 2009. The two leaders sealed the new deal with a phone call March 26. Both countries will pledge to cut deployed nuclear warheads below 1,550 - 30 percent below the current limit. They will also reduce intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launchers below 800 and reduce deployed ICBMs, submarine based launchers and bombers equipped to carry such weapons below 700.

An agreement was near late last year, but the past months have brought wrangling over specific parts of the agreement, in particular, U.S. missile-defense plans. In the end, nonbinding language was used to skirt the issue.

"Since taking office, one of my highest priorities has been addressing the threat posed by nuclear weapons to the American people. And that's why, last April in Prague, I stated America's intention to pursue the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons," Obama said in announcing the agreement. "A fundamental part of that effort was the negotiation of a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia."

A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Prague said it remains unclear how much time Obama will spend in town, as plans are still in development. According to several sources, the most likely site for the ceremony is Prague Castle.

Benjamin Cunningham can be reached at
bcunningham@praguepost.com