President Barack Obama " who visited Russia in July " has vowed to “reset” U.S.-Russia relations.

Beyond Iran, Lavrov said U.S. and Russia negotiators have made “considerable” progress toward reaching agreement on a new strategic arms treaty. The 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START, expires in December and negotiators have been racing to reach agreement on a successor.

The two diplomats also discussed possible cooperation on missile defense following Obama’s decision not to proceed with Bush-administration plans to base such a system in eastern Europe. Russia has welcomed Obama’s new approach, but has said it was eager for more detailed information.

Clinton said the U.S. would be as transparent as possible.

“We want to ensure that every question that the Russian military or Russian government asks is answered,” she said, calling missile defense “another area for deep cooperation between our countries.”

Medvedev said last month that while sanctions are rarely productive “in some cases they are inevitable.” Lavrov stressed Tuesday the president meant that sanctions would be considered only when all political and diplomatic efforts are exhausted.

Sanctions have become a harder sell after Iran agreed to allow U.N. inspectors to visit the Qom site and agreed, in principle, to send most of its low-enriched uranium to Russia for reprocessing.


Tentative Inspection Program Would Allow Russia to Visit U.S. Nuclear Sites!

http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/D9906C21-6990-428F-93C8-1038F0153524/

Hopeychange in action.