U.S. President Barack Obama will meet 11 leaders from central and eastern Europe when he travels to Prague next week for the signing of a new nuclear arms-control treaty with Russia, the White House said Friday. Spokesman Robert Gibbs said the meetings would take place in the Czech Republic capital when Obama visits for the April 8 signing of the agreement to reduce nuclear warheads and replace the START treaty that expired in December. The White House did not immediately specify which leaders would participate in meetings and a formal dinner after the signing of the nuclear treaty, but Gibbs said U.S. NATO allies would be included. Obama will arrive in Prague on Thursday morning, participate in a formal signing ceremony for the new treaty, and hold a ceremonial lunch with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev and Czech President Vaclav Klaus. The U.S. president also will hold a bilateral meeting with Medvedev. On Friday, Obama will meet with Klaus and Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer before returning to Washington.
