Russia and the United States are to sign a new Strategic Arms Treaty in the near future. The statement was made during RF President Dmitry Medvedev’s telephone conversation with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama on January 27.

The conversation was held on the U.S. initiative. The sides voiced the opinion that the relevant talks are nearing completion. The Kremlin press service reported that the Russian and U.S. leaders arranged to order the technical revision of the new Treaty to be completed in the immediate future.

Philip J. Crowley, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, reported that Russia and the United States will continue negotiations over the new Treaty on February 1. The negotiators hope to draft an effective agreement that would meet both the nations’ interests, Crowley said.

The RF Foreign Office reports that the document is to be finalized in a few weeks.

The new Treaty ill replace the first one signed in Moscow in 1991 and enforced on December 5, 1994. It expired on December 5, 2009.

T.P.