Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Obama Hails 'Season of Progress' in Year-End News Conference VOA News 22 December 2010 Photo: REUTERS President Obama speaks at year-end news conference, 22 Dec 2010 During a year-end news conference at the White House Wednesday, U.S. President Barack Obama celebrated what he called a bipartisan "season of progress," a few hours after the Senate ratified an arms control agreement with Russia. President Obama told reporters that after November's mid-term elections, many people predicted that Washington would be headed for more partisanship. But Obama said the accomplishments of a post-election season of Congress demonstrate that "we are not doomed to endless gridlock." The Senate's ratification of the arms control treaty was a top foreign policy priority for the president. The administration considers the pact the centerpiece in resetting the relationship between the former Cold War foes. On the issue of Guantanamo detainees, the president the reason for wanting to close the U.S. military prison in Cuba is to keep Americans safe, saying Guantanamo is a recruitment tool used by jihadist organizations like al-Qaida. The White House has said a draft executive order to formalize indefinite detentions of some Guantanamo detainees is a long way from being approved by the president. Officials in Washington have said the U.S. is preparing to indefinitely detain nearly 50 alleged terrorists now held at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Some 174 inmates remain at the facility. Regarding his domestic agenda, President Obama said the economy will be his "singular focus" over the next two years. He said the country is past the crisis point in the economy and that he will work to reduce the unemployment rate and compete with the rest of the world. Obama also told reporters the government needs to be a good partner with the private sector in getting rid of regulations that stand in the way of innovation. He said Americans will hold him and both Democrats and Republicans accountable for the impact of their policies on the economy.  Obama, however, voiced disappointment that Congress has not passed a budget to fund the federal government for the fiscal year that began October 1. A continuing resolution is keeping the government open through March 4. The president also said he was disappointed that Congress failed to pass the "Dream Act" amnesty immigration reform bill. The president said he knows young people who came to the U.S. as child immigrants who he says are willing to fight for the country and want to go to college, but that the laws do not recognize them as Americans. Separately, Obama said the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the U.S. policy concerning gays in the military, was the right thing to do for U.S. security. The repeal ends the 17-year-old policy that forced gays to hide their sexual orientation or face discharge from the armed forces. Obama signed the repeal Wednesday. .