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US: Nuclear disarmament talks with Russia 'productive'

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-04 23:26

GENEVA -- The United States and Russia have held a "productive" round of talks aimed at reaching a new strategic arms reduction agreement to replace the 1991 START treaty, a senior US official said here on Thursday.

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The US delegation "engaged in productive talks with our Russian counterparts, working toward a START follow-on agreement," said Rose Gottemoeller, acting US under-secretary of state for arms control. She led the US delegation in the three days of talks in Geneva, which concluded on Wednesday.

Both sides declined to reveal further details of their discussions.

The two held their first round of negotiations in Moscow on May 19-21, which was described as a "success."

The START treaty is set to expire on Dec. 5, 2009.

Both sides have expressed willingness to reach a new agreement before the end of the year.