U.S. expresses limited optimistic on new arms control deal with Russia

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Wednesday voiced its limited optimism over a new arms control treaty with Russia to replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which expired on Saturday.

"Obviously, our hope is to get one done, but we can't plan for a signing ceremony until something's done, and we've certainly made no arrangements for that," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters at the daily press briefing.

According to the spokesman, the negotiators from the two sides have still been talking on the replacement of START treaty. "We're getting closer and making progress on an agreement. But there are still issues that have to be worked out that stand in the way of that ultimate agreement."

"We are optimistic that we can get one. Whether or not that happens by Copenhagen at this point's just hard to say," Gibbs added.

Under the START, which was signed in 1991 between the United States and the Soviet Union, the two nuclear powers should reduce their respective nuclear warheads to less than 6,000 and launchers to less than 1,600.

U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev have agreed on an ambitious and aggressive reduction to their nuclear arsenals by hammering out a new treaty, under which the nuclear warheads each side holds will be reduced to 1,500 to 1,675, while the launchers will be limited to 500 to 1,000.

Negotiators from the two countries, led by Assistant Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller and her Russian counterpart Anatoly Antonov, have been busy talking in Geneva, in order to resolve remaining differences.

In a joint statement issued on Friday, Presidents Obama and Medvedev said they will continue to work together in the spirit of the START treaty following its expiration, in order to ensure that a new treaty on strategic arms enter into force at the earliest possible date.

Steven Pifer, an expert on arms control and proliferation in Brookings Institution, told Xinhua that the main differences may be related to two big issues. One is reaching agreement on the number of launchers, and the other is the verification questions.

But the expert believes that the two countries can wrap up the final details.

"If they don't get it done in December, I think they will get it done early next year. Both presidents have made repeatedly clear that they want the treaty and both sides have strong motivations," said Pifer, adding "it is not a question on whether will get the treaty but on when will get the treaty."