Russia-US bargain on nuke arms cuts Moscow needs to do more to 'reset'

Moscow: On the eve of President Barack Obama's first visit to Moscow, Russia and the United States were on Sunday still bargaining on an outline deal to cut Cold War arsenals of nuclear weapons.

Obama arrives on Monday to meet Kremlin chief Dmitry Medvedev at what is being billed as a summit that could "reset" US-Russia relations after they hit a Cold War low under George W. Bush.

But, in comments which underline continuing deep differences between Washington and Moscow, Medvedev said in an interview published on Sunday that the United States must compromise on plans to deploy an anti-missile system in Europe.

This was necessary to get a deal to replace the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (Start I) before it expires on December 5, the Russian leader said.

"We consider these issues are interconnected," Medvedev said in an interview with Italian media that was broadcast on Russian state television.

"It is sufficient to show restraint and show an ability to compromise. And then we can agree on the basis of a new deal on Start and at the same time can agree on the question of how we move forward on anti-missile defence," he said.

Russia's Interfax news agency quoted a highly placed source in the Moscow Foreign Ministry as saying that a so-called framework agreement the presidents were due to sign on nuclear cuts is not yet ready, less than 24 hours before Obama arrives.

The framework deal was supposed to be the centrepiece of Obama's visit to Moscow, where he will also meet Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who has repeatedly warned the US that Russia would not accept plans for the missile system in Europe.

Obama and Medvedev in April instructed negotiators to work on a new treaty. Washington plans to station anti-missile batteries and radar detection systems in the Czech Republic and Poland as part of a global system to shoot down hostile enemy rockets before they reach the US.

Moscow, which relies heavily on nuclear weapons for its defence because of the poor state of its conventional weapons, opposes the anti-missile system as a threat to its security. It dismisses US arguments that the system is directed only at Iran, saying it could be used against Russia.

Obama has said the US is reviewing missile defence ideas but Washington needs to build a system which could defend the US and European allies from a nuclear attack from Iran.

Moscow (AP) Barack Obama said strengthening human rights and the rule of law in Russia should be a part of the much heralded "reset" in US-Russian relations, according to an interview with opposition newspaper Novaya Gazeta.

Obama also said he applauded President Dmitry Medvedev's efforts to reform Russia's creaky judicial system, according to excerpts released by the newspaper.

"I agree with President Medvedev when he said that 'freedom is better than the absence of freedom'," Obama was quoted as saying. "I see no reason why strengthening democracy, human rights and the rule of law cannot be included as part of our reset" in relations.

The term "reset" refers to the pledge by officials in both countries to improve relations that had chilled markedly in recent years.

It was unclear whether Obama's comments were a signal that he intends to press Medvedev - or Prime Minister Vladimir Putin - on judicial reforms or human rights issues during his two-day summit in Moscow.

Rights groups, US lawmakers, as well as Russian and US foreign policy experts, have urged Obama not to ignore those issues in order to reach agreement with Medvedev on broader disputes such as a new arms control treaty.

The interview was conducted in writing, with the newspaper receiving answers to its questions at the end of last week.