Contradictions persist at talks on new START treaty-MP.

WASHINGTON, February 24 (Itar-Tass) - There still remain
contradictions at the current talks between Russia and the United States
on a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, Konstantin Kosachyov, Chairman
of the Committee on International Affairs of the State Duma lower house of
the Russian parliament, said here on Tuesday. He is currently in
Washington on a working visit.
The Russian parliamentarian explained that the differences that
persist at the talks concern the linkage of two themes: strategic
offensive arms and anti-missile defense. "The Americans take a more
optimistic view of the situation. They believe that those are slight
differences that are easy to settle," Kosachyov specified. Meanwhile, he
went on to say, the Russian side "pessimistically" estimates the obtaining
situation and considers that the US must show "more flexibility".
At the same time, Kosachyov is convinced, the remaining problems can
be settled provided there is a "political will" so as to wrap up the work
on a new treaty within two to three weeks.
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