Czechs Would Host U.S.-Russia Disarmament Signing

Barack Obama and wife Michelle after the president's major disarmament speech outside Prague Castle on April 5, 2009.

The Czech Foreign Ministry says Prague has agreed to host the signing of a new U.S.-Russian treaty on nuclear arms reduction once the terms of the deal are finalized.

In a statement today, ministry spokesman Filip Kanda said Czech officials "were asked whether we'd agree with hosting the meeting in Prague when the negotiations will be finished. We have consulted it as allies with the U.S., and we agreed."

Washington and Moscow are trying to wrap up a deal before an upcoming nuclear summit in the United States next month.

The new disarmament treaty is to replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) that expired in December.

compiled from agency reports