MOSCOW, November 29. /TASS/. Moscow will soon offer Washington new dates for a meeting on the START Treaty, but that will not happen immediately, a senior Russian diplomat said on Tuesday.

"When the time is right, we will propose new dates to the Americans, but that will not happen immediately," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told reporters, adding that there might be a delay.

However, the Bilateral Consultative Commission under the Russia-US New START Treaty is unlikely to meet before the New Year, according to Ryabkov. "We are not targeting the end of the year," he said. "It is too early to say how and when we will come up with these new proposals and what period of time we will ultimately target," the Russian diplomat emphasized.

Nor is Moscow communicating with Washington in terms of setting preconditions for a commission meeting. "We would certainly like to agree on a workable program for the upcoming session, one that is balanced and meets the interests of both sides," Ryabkov added.

Commenting on Russia’s move to postpone nuclear weapons talks with the US, he said it was necessary to send a political message. "Major issues that dominate our agenda with the United States today are more important than the technical or mechanical aspects of efforts as part of the START Treaty. This is how things look now," Ryabkov concluded.