Russia, U.S. Agree to Nuclear Arms Reduction

President Medvedev and I are committed to leaving behind the suspicion and rivalry of the past.

WASHINGTON (Catholic Online) - President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a preliminary agreement on Monday that would reduce the nuclear stockpiles of the two world powers by as much as one-third. This agreement brings the inventory of both nations to the lowest levels ever agreed upon.

Standing side-by-side in at the Kremlin, President Obama stated, "The president and I agreed that the relationship between Russia and the United States has suffered from a sense of drift. President Medvedev and I are committed to leaving behind the suspicion and rivalry of the past."

President Medvedev stated that this agreement is a "reasonable compromise" for the two superpowers. "This is the first but very important step in improving full-scale cooperation between our two countries, which would go to the benefit of both states," he said.

"I would like to emphasize that each of our countries understand its role in its own way, but at the same time we realize our role and responsibility for the situation in this world," the Russian leader also stated, adding that "such powerful states as the United States of America and the Russian Federation have special responsibility for everything that is happening on our planet."

In other decisions
• The United States received permission from Moscow for the United States to transport arms across its borders and airspace for the war in Afghanistan. According to President Obama, this will save the U.S. approximately $133 million a year, by waiving transit fees and making the flying time shorter.
• Both said their countries would work together to stabilize Afghanistan. This would include an increase in assistance to that nation's army and police, and training counternarcotics personnel.
• The resumption of military cooperation, which had been suspended after Russia invaded neighboring Georgia last August.
• There was a promise of renewed cooperation on public health issues
• There an agreement to revive a joint commission to try to account for missing service members of both countries dating back to World War II.

The European missile defense system desired by the United States is still an area where a great deal of work needs to be done between the two countries. President Obama's call, while visiting Moscow, was to allow for a system to be established thwarting any initiatives by Iran; that this was not a defensive posture with regard to Soviet missile capabilities.

This is the first "Moscow Summit" since 2002 when President Bush met with then-Russian President Vladimir Putin. After meeting with Russia's president today, Obama will meet with Putin, who is now Prime Minister, tomorrow.

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Prior to departing for Russia, the president caused a stir by telling the Associated Press that Putin will have to learn that "the old Cold War approach to U.S.-Russian relations is outdated."

There is still some question as to the centers of power in the Russian Federation between the President and Prime Minister. When pressed on the subject, President Obama stated before the trip, "My understanding is, President Medvedev is the president ... and Prime Minister Putin is the prime minister."

The G-8 Meetings are scheduled for Wednesday through Friday in Italy, with the president planning to meet with Pope Benedict XVI that same day before returning to the U.S.

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