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Berlin expects US Congress to ratify New START Treaty

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Berlin, Nov 17, IRNA -- Germany expects the US Senate to ratify a new nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia, a top German government official said here on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The US Congress is undergoing a transition phase from the old to the new
Congress.

The US administration is doing everything to get it ratified, the official said.

'I assume it will get ratified,' he added.

A number of Senate Republicans have vowed to stall the ratification of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, saying too many issues remained unresolved and that the Senate should not consider New START until a new session begins in January.

After signing the treaty in April with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, US President Barack Obama said he wanted Senate ratification by the end of the year.

Treaty ratification requires a two-thirds majority in the 100-seat Senate.

The November 2 elections trimmed Democratic control of the Senate, which could make ratifying START more difficult for Obama once the new Congress is seated in January.

Obama had urged the lame-duck Senate to vote on the treaty as soon as
possible.

The new treaty would cut the nuclear weapons arsenals to no more than 1,550 warheads on both sides and would replace its 1991 predecessor, which expired in December.