Clinton backs sooner START ratification

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton believes that the new START nuclear arms treaty with Russia will be ratified soon. She stated this making a speech at the Senate on Wednesday. The ratification "will advance our national security and provide predictability and stability," Clinton said. She also stressed "it's a critical component of US efforts to keep tabs on Moscow's arsenal."

The Senate to consider  the new treaty September 15-16.

The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty signed in April by President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev cuts the total number of nuclear weapons held by the United States and Russia by about a third.

Russiain tends to ratify the document simultaneously with the US.