Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.

Putin Calls for Talks with US on New Disarmament Treaty
-------------------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=12CAF6B:3919ACA Russian president
says he wants new treaty to replace Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty
(START), which expires in 2009



" hspace=2 src="/english/images/ap_russia_putin_27jun06_eng_195.jpg"
width=210 vspace=2 border=0>

Vladimir Putin delivers a speech in Moscow, June 27, 2006Russian
President Vladimir Putin has called for negotiations with Washington
on a new weapons-reduction treaty.

Mr. Putin says he wants a new treaty to replace the Strategic Arms
Reduction Treaty, known as START, which expires in 2009.

The United States signed the START agreement with the former Soviet
Union in 1991. The treaty called for deep reductions in the nuclear
forces of both sides and effective verification of the disarmament
process.

After the Soviet Union collapsed, Washington signed agreements in 1992
with Russia and three other former Soviet states that had weapons
covered by START.

Mr. Putin spoke Tuesday to Russian diplomats in Moscow. He told them
Russia's relations with the U.S. should be based on the principles of
equality and mutual respect.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.


.