all. president obama did discuss iran's nuclear ambitions on the sidelines of a summit in azerbaijan with five nation state there claims to the caspian sea energy treasure. the new start treaty is the cornerstone of russia u.s. corporation president obama presses for the key reduction deal to be given the green lights in congress president obama is trying to push his arguably major foreign policy achievement through the senate i'm going to washington d.c. i'll be back with more in just a few moments. and russian businessman the victim says u.s. authorities offered him a deal but only if you confess to crimes he insists he did not commit. moscow says

it will continue providing all necessary support to victor boot but does not proclaim whether the russian citizen is innocent or guilty. we have twenty four hour news from russia and from around the world this is r.t. in moscow for the first time since backing u.n. sanctions against iran over its nuclear program russia's president has met iranian leader mahmoud ahmadinejad and it was those suspected atomic ambitions which were the focus of the told filled in azerbaijan the to a meeting at a summit of the five nations bordering the caspian sea would approve of claims to the seas vast energy resources. as this report. the meeting between the president's office russia and iran is surely one of the biggest

highlights of the summit since it's the first time that they've met since russia back to the latest set off during sanctions on iran and also cancel the shipment of the ass three hundred air defense systems a move which was strongly criticized by iran and caused a significant a significant chilling in relations between the two countries after the meeting with her that this was a positive meeting and that both presidents were not afraid to talk about complicated and even unpleasant issues and of course iran's controversial nuclear program was discussed and moscow says that it's keen to get a clearer picture of iran's of views on the situation and also explain its position in order to try to move the dispute from the deadlock it's currently in russia and iran all our neighbors in the caspian region and to moscow says that it's also keen to continue cooperation with iran in many other spheres like peaceful nuclear energy just remind you russia built the bush era nuclear power plant for iran and

also even a military trade as well if these arms to sold arms don't fall under the latest set off a sanctions president outlined in the job the iranian leader said to that these this latest set of sanctions is ineffective and also called the international community to stop what he called was aggression one talking about iran's nuclear program if it wanted to this a long standing dispute to finally come to an end well let me just tell you a little bit about the caspian sea itself first of all the caspian sea is extremely rich in natural resources we're talking about up to twenty billion tons of oil and gas that's comparable with. posits in the persian gulf also up to ninety percent of the global sturgeon catch is done here as well and during soviet times the sea was shared between the soviet union. iran but after the collapse of the u.s.s.r. new new independent states emerged in the region and obviously everybody wants

a piece of the pliable however the sea still hasn't been officially divided and this is the third such summits of the summit off the caspian nations it's meant to figure out how to divide the sea and to build up enough fissile status for the sort of all to see the decisions taken at this summit are quite important and do effected the lives of millions of people living in the in the bounding countries. the record bomber has asked his vice president to focus tonight on getting the congress votes needed to ratify a key arms cuts deal with moscow and so after obama addressed a bipartisan meeting in the white house where he urged republicans to approve the strategic arms reduction treaty before the end of the year but he's got a con has more now from washington. but on a sit down with senators both democrat and republican to once again explain why the treaty needs to be ratified now is that what's at stake now is the u.s.

national security and there's nothing more important for this lame duck session as this senate's time in office is running out the start treaty tensions reached their peak earlier a key republican stark negotiator in the senate jon kyl said that there are very important things to do now in the senate and shouldn't run on the treaty ratification what's on the line now is arguably obama's major foreign policy achievement obama once again made it clear the start treaty is the milestone of the reset in u.s. washable nations there we said which as has been paris lee reminding resulted in critical cooperation from moscow on of ghana's stand and iran's the new start treaty is also a cornerstone of our relations with russia. and this goes beyond nuclear security russia has been fundamental to our efforts for strong sanctions in place to put pressure on to deal with its nuclear program. it's been critical in supporting our troops in afghanistan through the northern distribution network it's been critical

in working with us to secure all vulnerable nuclear materials around the world and to enhance european security there is an understanding that further cooperation plans could go south without this treaty this key trading place the start is not just about reducing both country's nuclear arsenals by a third it's seen as a symbol of trust between the two nuclear superpowers many capitol hill observers say the debate is really not no longer about the content of the pretty but rather about flexing political muscle there is a huge bipartisan support for the treaty among experts but not on the hill today we heard they had of russians they do not force the nations committee thus i think of such i'll say the treaty is too important to be a victim of political bickering it will be responsibility for the american port that will be the responsibility for the senate and the part of the senate to be

opposed to certification and i do not want to believe in these respective because it is too dangerous if there is a two front forgivable so to see in terms so for the global security where most of the united states and russia have a special responsibility to reach it cannot be related to the interests of a certain political parties which may be the case in the ongoing discussions in the states and many capitol hill observers here in washington say the whole of the basestar ratification debate now comes down to the question whether some republican senators are ready to undermine a landmark treaty which the most experts represents common sense just for the sake of picking on obama. kind of. nato's poised for a crucial summit in lisbon this weekend to map out missile defense its strategy in afghanistan and the entire role of the unites the presidents of russia and the u.s. will meet the russia's envoy to nato says while moscow in the united so moving

closer and some issues common ground the nonproliferation of missile defense in europe still needs work nato secretary-general anders fogh rasmussen told r.t. that russia's participation in the european security system will be talked about seriously at the session. the nato will decide to develop a nato based missile defense system at the summit and of course we can't expect the russian president to give an answer just a few hours after a nato decision but what we will do at the nato meeting in lisbon is to initiate a darned analysis of how nato. corp and restart a defense could be implemented and that would be a very very positive step forward saw. i think the nato russia meeting in lisbon will be a very positive and very productive meeting. and you can see the full interview

with anders fogh rasmussen in spotlight with going to all of that later here on r.t. . well some experts do not share the optimistic expectations of the nato chief political writer diana johnston is skeptical about the chances of the united some russia cooperating successfully in the future especially in areas such as missile defense . i don't see how really they can work together and less it's completely on the terms that are set by the united states and i think that this offer is simply to quell any objections that might exist in europe of that were offending russia but in fact i think it's a perfect example of the way the obama administration says two things that are opposite all the time we want to be friendly but we're building up our defenses we we're going to get rid of nuclear weapons we're going to develop some more i don't see that the united states has decided that it's pointless to have confrontation

with russia why then is it building up forces in the arctic. bringing canadian and scandinavian forces whose only purpose could be to confront russia over resources in the arctic the united states is carrying out military maneuvers in the baltic clear whose only opposition could be russia and the black sea so i don't see it really that the united states has decided that confrontation with russia is pointless again it's a double thing they say one thing and they do another since it's a big bureaucracy the pentagon you don't really know exactly what the policy is. coming up in the program this out of the frying pan and into the fire people for the last month and ultimately deportation from some e.u. countries find out later the new challenge is waiting for them in vogue area. and

also time to quit russians officially light up more than any other nation on earth find out what's being done to kick the habit threatening to slowly kill the country . story still to come but first russian businessman victim says he came under severe pressure from u.s. authorities to admit charges of arms trafficking and terrorism he's now in a new york prison and has rejected all accusations against him moscow says it will offer consular help to boot although russian officials say that doesn't mean they think he's innocent marina portnoy reports now from new york. the case surrounding viktor bout has been quite a tug of war between russia and the us and the presidential aide to dmitri medvedev recently spoke out saying that the charges that the u.s. have leverage against russian citizen serious and russia would like for those charges to be thoroughly investigated and russia is providing assistance to victor boot but russian officials have underscored the fact that that does not mean

or should not be translated into a meeting that moscow believes victor boot is innocent or guilty they are just trying to make sure that everything is going according to plan and no laws are being violated and russian officials also said that they have nothing to hide in this circumstance the situation they're being very transparent and some have accused the u.s. of not being very transparent when it comes to picture boots extradition from thailand to new york you're. willing to stress to the u.s. authorities of some very serious and. russian citizen we have nothing to conceal we do consider this case is anything of the we want to see this investigation. of the u.s. where he would be given. assistance who the the the me we are claiming he's innocent you know. moscow's also accusing washington of

a double standard so we have to remember boot forty three year old russian citizen is being accused of smuggling weapons to fork rebels that would have been used to kill americans yet russian officials say that washington did provide georgia with several weapons many weapons that were used during the war in. which hundreds of civilians were killed so obviously a very contentious and sensitive situation surrounding right now many are speculating about. the fact is whether we can get a fair trial in the us two russian diplomats did visit with mr the federal prison where he's being held in lower manhattan one russian diplomat said that he he is right now in ok circumstances he was a bit to hydrated he's being held in solitary confinement mr booth said that he is all of his funds were essentially stolen while he was held in prison in thailand

for more than two years is alleging and says that during his extradition flight from thailand to the u.s. u.s. officials had tried to pressure him to admit to the charges that have been leveraged against him and in return they promised him some privileges said that he did not give in to what they wanted and so at this point he is now in solitary confinement in a federal prison the u.s. attorney had also held a press conference outlining the charges against victor boot and let's take a listen to what exactly they are their tribute now stands charged in this district the southern district of new york with four charges one conspiring to kill united states nationals two conspiring to kill united states officers and employees three conspiring to use an acquire anti-aircraft missiles and for conspiring to provide

material support to the fark victor boot will be in court in early january that's the next time scheduled to take place a room of people facing growing prejudice across europe some countries blame the community for rising crime and deporting them but for the room the situation in their native countries is appalling many live in slums and are unable to access basic services done you'll bushell reports now from both garia. seems like we could become common across europe the mayor of this town in southern belle garrett told r.t. he had to tear down this block of flats because the room the residents had turned it into a slum. with a pile of rubble is all that's left of the housing estate what all sorts of called a public health hazard infested with rats cockroaches and fleas thousands of roma who back home. some have moved to this wasteland no shelter health care or

education for the children. well they don't know where citizens where there's a treat us like this schools won't take my son because he has lice and disease people here ask is this what the e used become with winter approaching they'll be sleeping in the cold. first you politicians bury their heads in the sand but only we can solve their own problems a lot of. france to send tens of thousands of roma back to bulgaria sweden it's a lead denmark and germany had similar policies they use justice commissioner says it reminds her of world war two one of the evicted told me he picks pockets to feed his family member countries report rumor offenses are shooting up pushing rising numbers into angry and she gypsy groups the biggest problem how would the jets this is the crime already like a civil war there are stealing or else or for a train serious the life of the people campaign is more that most roma sent back by

france and other states can't integrate as there aren't enough jobs for them and paul gearing up for education opportunities limited music remains one of their few part. was. the racy gypsy style of pop the child tops the charts but campaigners say the conflicts are set to surge until that is you learn to live and work with roma not just enjoy the music in the nightclubs don't you bushell artsy saffir. time now to check out some more international news at this hour the governor of the central bank of ireland says he expects the country to accept a substantial loan as part of an e.u. bailout package alone could be tens of billions of euros it all comes after eurozone finance ministers valid to support the country with a struggling economy should the request help the markets have been spooked by fears some smaller member countries aren't capable of paying back their debts. the first

one time obey prisoner to be tried in the u.s. civil court has been found guilty on just one count of terrorism was facing over two hundred eighty the thirty six year old ahmed ghailani was convicted for his involvement in two attacks on american embassies in africa in one thousand nine hundred eight when more than two hundred people were killed and he will now get at least twenty years in prison at guantanamo campus facing constant worldwide criticism amid revelations of torture and abuse of detainees. four members of the same family including a fifteen month old girl have been killed in a landslide in colombia it was triggered by continuing heavy downpours of rain has been particularly bad this year in the south american nation claiming the lives of one hundred thirty eight people so far homes and roads have been damaged in twenty eight to thirty two of them. it's official russia has the most smokers per capita in the world the statistics just released yet another reminder to the government that it needs to up its game to help people quit and as our reports are not taking this battle lying down. brief but graphic the world health

organization and the russian government are hitting me airways with the campaign me to stamp out cigarettes. in a nation where a pack of smokes is sometimes cheaper than a bottle of water a new study shows that more people live here than anywhere else in the world more than half of all men do and number is smaller among women a twenty five percent but it's growing according to the world health organization diseases associated with addiction kills nearly five hundred thousand russians every year about forty seven percent of small cars who are smokers today they start small given the age of fifteen sixteen and the said thank is that tobacco industry know this provides very glamorous and to get advertising the government is taking action by banning cigarette ads and cigarette promotions in t.v. and film beginning in twenty eleven lawmakers are also pondering the possibility of making it more expensive to puff prime minister putin is asking legislators to lead

by example to the among government members smokes one two three see we have better statistics than in the countries none change at least on this issue. alone you know what but i think they'll try to quit smoking won't they. say . what are you going to do to fight smoking up maybe you should sit your only son records like quitting. i was frustrated what are you laughing at you so much you've got to quit to. some call the government's anti smoking efforts and overzealous infringement of their rights the cool thing is that it's wrong to create a law to ban me from smoking i told this like benon you from there is cross over i won't care if there is a ban as smoke if i want to smoke. more and more measures are on the way including a complete public ban on smoking in bars and restaurants set to take place by two

thousand and fifteen so you know what it's like when you go out smelling like your favorite perfume or cologne but by the end of the night it's like you just rolled out of them that is as true. that this was still a vision. to be able to tell that the air is clear that's because we're the first mochrie bar. going out as you did coming in marbella is the baby of a. has been cigarette free for four years his aim is to have a fashionable place where nonsmokers can breathe easy with money look at the experience of european countries profit depends on whether one likes it here or not if i can create a couzin relaxed atmosphere and make people here feel joy and be merry i will earn my money. so for some of the smoke free future is now. global heavy weights have been working to find a remedy to the world's economic strife it forms in the asia pacific region to

discuss a situation with no obvious solution caught up with author and journalist cook to hear his views that special interview is coming next. how best to restructure global financial institutions like the world bank and the i.m.f. to better reflect today's economic landscape that's the challenge facing world

leaders and businessmen and as tensions rise over beyond. the so-called currency war and the related to see with global trade imbalances raising the risk of a move towards protectionism the pressure really is on to talk us through some of these challenges i'm not very p.c. i'm joined by correspondent from the christian science monitor. many thanks for being with us. mr kerik now we are in the midst of what's being dubbed a currency war with the u.s. and china really long to head. off a currency manipulation you think of as a way out of this and well maybe a way out of it but i'm not. certain that we're going to get out of it any time soon the g. twenty summit did not come out with any real consensus on currency balances they certainly came out with strong resolution of the so that it's not good they said

volatility is not good and all this other stuff is not good but they didn't actually agree on a way to be on the way to resolve it aside from recognizing the problem and saying yes let's try to resolve it and then of course there's also the. issue of global trade imbalances do you think the u.s. is justified in asking export having countries like china and germany to curb their reliance on exports in order to to rebalance trade and librium well you know i don't know if the u.s. is justified but i will say the u.s. has a terrific trade deficit and the trade deficit with china is just enormous you know it's like trying to export several times as much as the u.s. next. to china and so you know from a common american point of view the u.s. has got to do something about this obviously the u.s. has to take care of a lot of domestic problems its own problems its own internal problems no doubt about that but they also have to lean on exports to raise the value of their

currency to more realistic levels and as president obama pointed out quite frankly in his press conference china intervenes heavily in the market to keep the you want to keep the renminbi the you want at a lower rate than it really should be so you know. the u.s. has to do something and they've got to they've got to improve domestically and they've got to try to improve they've got to try to slash. you know surpluses of other countries i can't blame the us for for behaving that way and we don't want of this squabbling going on they do you think that there really is a danger that countries might begin to look after their reign if you like can see you at protectionist policies i think there's a real danger of that and the danger is not just countries elsewhere around the world of the dangers of in the u.s. the american congress might get protectionist if this goes on they're not going to get protectionist right away they're not going to get protectionist next year the

next congress is not going to be protectionist but over the years protectionism it could certainly build and finally the congress would say ok keep out all this foreign stuff you know that's. all these imports i'm not saying that's good that that part is not good. in fact that's a real danger that's not a solution that's a danger but that could happen and also other countries could certainly respond with protectionist measures of their own a lot of countries already have protectionist measures one of one sort or another and how would you gauge gloop reaction to that shock announcement we recently had from the federal reserve that it was going to embark on that fact round of quantitative easing the six hundred billion. told is being pumped into the economy we have some very shell christmas coming out from developing a call to me saying that this seriously bored it could whomp their markets but also from countries like germany right right that was a shocker about the us federal reserve announced that it was buying treasury bonds

worth six hundred billion dollars and this was on top of the previous purchase of treasury bonds worth one point seven billion dollars this is an invitation for the u.s. to print ever more one hundred dollar bills you know there are some people who are not quite as critical to us as others but i don't recall anybody applauding the u.s. move i don't recall anybody saying oh smart move i don't i don't think i don't think anybody said that there was some people who were not critical but they didn't they didn't they didn't they were not in favor either you know. many thanks for joining us here on often it good to be with you thank you. my grandmother did not like her because. she was afraid. and she was

very cold. she felt. i was frankenstein's monster. we don't have the problem. every time and effort is made. on the palestinian or on the european side to negotiate an end to the violent attacks against israel which i have no fear of war call the terrorists so long as you have no fear calling the leader of the state of israel one of the main terrorists in the world. we are supposed to be seriously examining history but you mention a few words about jewish culture happening and people get some upset.