Washington: The United States and Russia are "getting closer" towards signing an agreement to replace the START 1, a bilateral arms treaty that helped in limiting nuclear weapons of the two states.
"I think we're getting closer and making progress on an agreement," the White House Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, told reporters at his daily press briefing, when asked about ongoing negotiations between the two countries.
"I know there are still issues that have to be worked out that stand in the way of that ultimate agreement. Our principals continue to meet and brief the President on what's happening, and that will continue until we do get an agreement," Gibbs said.
"We're optimistic that we can get one. Whether or not that happens by Copenhagen at this point is just hard to say," Gibbs said, adding that the US and Russia continue to take part in negotiations on a replacement START Treaty.
"Obviously our hope is to get one done, but can't plan for a signing ceremony until something is done and we've certainly made no arrangements for that," Gibbs said.
START (for Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) is a bilateral treaty between the US and former USSR on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms.
The treaty was signed on July 31, 1991 and entered into force on December 5, 1994. The treaty was set to expire on December 5, 2009, but currently remains in force indefinitely pending agreement on a successor.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, December 10, 2009, 09:43