Obama Urges Reduction in Nuclear Arms

By Nathan Rutz

In the midst of his eight-day visit to Europe, Obama called for a world-wide reduction in nuclear weapons while stressing America's commitment to reducing its own stocks in the near future. As evidence for the commitment of the U.S. to this purpose, Obama mentioned the efforts being made by Russia and the U.S. on a new treaty to supplement the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The current Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) will expire in December of this year so both President Obama and Russian President Medvedev are pressed to reach an agreement. In a speech at Prague Castle in the Czech Republic, President Obama said, "President [Dmitry] Medvedev and I began this process in London, and we will seek to include all nuclear weapon states in this endeavor." Obama added, "To enhance our security and to demonstrate U.S. commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, we will negotiate a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia by the end of the year." He also cautioned countries about possibly defying orders of reduction by maintaining a nuclear capability and even referral to the U.N. Security Council. This speech came on the same day that North Korea launched a rocket that they claimed carried a satellite into space but is being viewed as a test launch for North Korea's capability for a long-range missile. American officials have condemned the launch but state that it failed to deliver its payload into orbit. President Obama said that the U.S. would work towards involving Iran and North Korea in the talks and disarming process stating, simply, "We believe in dialogue."

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/04/05/czech.republic.obama/index.html