Obama tells Russian leader nuclear pact is "top priority"

Nov 14, 2010, 5:00 GMT

Yokohama, Japan - US President Barack Obama insisted to his counterpart Dmitry Medvedev Sunday that a bilateral nuclear reduction pact is a 'top priority.'

'I reiterated my commitment to get the START Treaty done during the lame-duck session,' Obama told reporters after the meeting. 'And I've communicated to Congress that it is a top priority.'

The two presidents met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Yokohama, Japan.

Obama said he explained the opposition Republican Party's victory in the November 2 midterm elections, to take control of the House of Representatives. Republicans are usually opposed to the treaty. Obama said the Russian leader showed understanding.

The two leaders signed the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in April to reduce their deployed nuclear warheads, replacing the 1991 arms reduction accord, or START I.

The two leaders also discussed the nuclear standoff with Iran and had 'no disagreement over how to proceed,' Obama said.

He said they also discussed Medvedev's participation in the NATO summit next weekend in Lisbon, Portugal.

The Russian president's attendance 'allows us to restart the NATO-Russia Council and a host of consultations so that we can reduce tensions and increase cooperation on various security matters in the European theater,' Obama said.

Medvedev also said, 'We stated the improvement of relations between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. And this is useful both to our countries and all parties involved.'

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