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Russia’s General Staff chief to visit U.S.

21 April 2010 00:31 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Gen. Nikolai Makarov, chief of the General Staff of Russia’s Armed Forces, said on Tuesday he will visit the United States to discuss international and regional issues, including arms cuts, APA reports quoting RIA Novosti.

His working visit is to start on Wednesday and last until Saturday.

"During the visit, we will discuss the procedure for the implementation of the strategic arms reduction treaty signed in Prague, U.S. global and theater missile defense in Europe, the situation around the CFE Treaty, and tactical nuclear weapons," he told reporters.

He said a number of international and regional issues would also be addressed, including Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Central Asia, specifically Kyrgyzstan.

Makarov is to meet with Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and National Security Adviser James Johnson, among other U.S. officials.

The Russian-U.S. arms pact, signed on April 8, stipulates that the number of nuclear warheads is to be reduced to 1,550 on each side over seven years, while the number of delivery vehicles, both deployed and non-deployed, must not exceed 800.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev earlier said he would submit the treaty to parliament for ratification in early May if his counterpart Barack Obama does the same in the United States.

Both presidents have pledged to work with lawmakers to ensure its timely ratification.