BREAKING NEWS

Obama, Medvedev encouraged on arms talks accord

WASHINGTON — US President Barack Obama on Saturday had what the White House described as an "encouraging" phone conversation with Russian President Dmitrty Medvedev as the two countries sought to work out the remaining issues on a treaty to significantly reduce nuclear arsenals.
National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer said the two presidents reviewed progress toward an arms control accord that would succeed the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which expired in December.
"The results of their talks are encouraging, and both leaders are committed to concluding an agreement soon," Hammer said in a statement sent to The Associated Press Saturday night.
The Kremlin, in a statement cited by The New York Times, was even more positive, saying "it is now possible to talk about specific dates for the submission of the draft START treaty for signing by the heads of state."