Russia, U.S. to continue talks on START deal, says Russian senator

MOSCOW, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Russia and the United States will continue negotiations on reaching a new nuclear arms reduction deal, according to a Russian senator.

When summing up Russia's foreign affairs in 2009 at a Monday news conference, Mikhail Margelov, chairman of the international affairs committee in Russia's upper house, said several factors prevented Moscow and Washington from clinching a new treaty on their nuclear arsenals, including technical ones.

Currently both countries were stepping up efforts, trying to complete the final text of the replacement for the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START-1), which expired on Dec. 5, he said.

The senator also believed that Moscow's resetting relations with Washington, especially their coordinated position on a new START treaty, was one of the key results of 2009.

Russia and the United States had been cooperating on a series of issues, including Middle East peace, anti-terrorism and Afghanistan, said Margelov.

Russia would continue to facilitate the sending of U.S. troops and military equipment to Afghanistan by allowing flights through its airspace, he said, and Russia welcomed the U.S. decision to scrap plans for a missile shield defense in Eastern Europe.

In general, Russia was pleased with its thawing relations with the United States, he said.

On European ties, the senator hoped the final approval of the Lisbon Treaty and establishment of new EU organizations would promote a more pragmatic, mutually beneficial Russia-EU relationship.

As for Russia-China ties, Margelov said the two countries had finally ended remaining territorial issues proceeding from a strategic perspective. He said the Russia-China strategic partnership of cooperation had seen continued development in all fields.

Margelov also hoped the two countries would further strengthen interaction between parliaments, especially those of regional legislation.