START ratification is 'imperative,' President Obama says

[News_Editor]

START ratification is 'imperative,' President Obama says

2010-11-18 23:58:00 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday renewed calls on the Senate to ratify the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (STAR) with Russia this year in the lame-duck session.

"It is a national security imperative that the United States ratify the Start treaty this year," Obama said after meeting with his cabinet, and other former US officials, including former state secretaries Madeleine Albright and Henry Kissinger.

Obama said the U.S. can't afford to "gamble" by putting off ratification, adding that the U.S. can't verify with inspections Russian weapons as long as the treaty is not ratified. "As Ronald Reagan said, we have to trust but we also have to verify."

According to Obama, passing the treaty is a "cornerstone of our relationship with Russia," it will aid in securing loose nuclear materials, and if it's not ratified the U.S. cannot keep pressure in Iran.

Obama also said he's "prepared to go the extra mile" by supporting $80 billion for modernizing nuclear stockpiles over next decade and $4.5 billion over next five years. "This is not a matter that can be delayed," Obama said. "This is not about politics."

Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed on April 8th the treaty to reduce their respective arsenals to a maximum of 1,550 warheads, a 30% cut on the limit set by the Moscow Treaty, concluded in 2002.

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