A new U.S.-Russian strategic arms reduction treaty should be signed in the very near future, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday.
"The work has effectively entered the home stretch," he said. "Just a little is left to be done: The presidents have issued unambiguous instructions, and now it is up to professionals and experts to commit that to paper."
Moscow and Washington are expected to sign a new document at the beginning of 2010 to replace the START 1 treaty, which expired on December 5.
Lavrov said last week the new treaty envisions "radical" cuts in the number of strategic offensive weapons.
Medvedev and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama announced at their first meeting in April that the countries would replace the START I treaty as part of their efforts to "reset" bilateral ties.
The treaty's outline agreed by the presidents included cutting nuclear arsenals to 1,500-1,675 operational warheads and delivery vehicles to 500-1,000.
MOSCOW, December 25 (RIA Novosti)
