Medvedev counts on specific results of Moscow meeting with Obama

"Today Russia-U.S. interaction is acquiring particular significance to resolve the most important problems of modern times. Their number includes maintaining strategic stability, nuclear nonproliferation, fighting international terrorism, settling regional conflicts," the Russian leader said.

Medvedev said he hopes "by joint efforts, while acting in the spirit of mutual respect and trust, the required dynamics will be given to the Russian-American partnership, and it will be taken to a qualitatively new level meeting the interests of our states and the entire global community."

Kremlin aide Sergei Prikhodko confirmed Friday that the Russian and U.S. presidents would sign a key framework arms control agreement during Obama's visit.

Prikhodko said Moscow hoped a new treaty regulating the number of long-range nuclear weapons would be signed early next year, but that its contents must not be sacrificed for the sake of a date. The current Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty was signed before the Soviet Union's breakup in 1991, and expires in December this year; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.rian.ru for full version.