Lugar in Moscow to discuss relations, arms

MOSCOW, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., is in Moscow to discuss the future of U.S.-Russian relations, including an arms reduction treaty, the U.S. Embassy said.

Lugar, who arrived in Moscow Tuesday, is expected to meet with officials until Saturday, Embassy officials told RIA Novosti, the Russian news agency.

Lugar, 76, has called on Russia and the United States to "conclude negotiations to ensure that the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty does not expire."

The United States and Russia engaged in another round of talks in Moscow Monday, discussing new document to replace the 1991 START-1, which expires in 2009, as well as discuss missile defense in Europe and non-proliferation, RIA Novosti said.

"We managed to finish our joint work with the outgoing U.S. administration with satisfactory results and to build a definite base for continuing work next year, bearing in mind that we need to draft a legally binding agreement to replace the START-1 treaty and find a compromise on the U.S. missile shield in Europe by the end of next year," a Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said during a news conference after the talks.