Disarmament Documentation
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US-Russia Arms Control Discussions, Washington, January 29
Russian Foreign Ministry Statement
'Russian-American Talks on Strategic Offensive Arms,' Russian
Foreign Ministry Statement, Document 169-30-01-2002, January
30.
On January 29, the first round of Russian-US talks on the
preparation of documents which are planned to be adopted in the
course of the US President's visit to Russia this spring took place
in Washington. The Russian interagency delegation was led by Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Georgy
Mamedov, and the American delegation by US Under Secretary of State
John Bolton.
Mamedov was received by Secretary of State Colin Power, who
expressed the hope that major results would be achieved in the
course of the summit, reflecting the qualitatively new character of
Russian-American relations in all fields.
The focus of the talks was the main elements proposed by the
Russian side of a future Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of
Strategic Offensive Arms. It was stressed that this would be a
legally binding document presupposing radical, real and reliably
verifiable cuts in strategic offensive arms levels - down to
ceilings of 1,700-2,200 nuclear warheads within 10 years.
The American side was simultaneously handed a draft declaration
on ways of shaping new strategic relations between Russia and the
USA, setting forth the principles and guidelines for such relations
in the political, economic and military-strategic fields.
It has been agreed that the talks will be continued in Moscow on
February 19.
Remarks by Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Mamedov
'Transcript of Deputy Minister of Foreign affairs Georgy
Mamedov live interview to the TC Channel ORT's Novosti (News)
Program, January 30, 2002'; Russian Foreign Ministry transcript,
Document 174-22-01-2002, January 30.
Question: Georgy Enverovich, what is it exactly that we
are holding consultations with the American side on: the conclusion
of a bilateral legally binding treaty, by which strategic nuclear
weapons will be reduced to the levels agreed upon by the presidents
in Texas, or will it all just come down to unilateral statements,
the implementation of which is unverifiable?
Georgy Mamedov: Above all, I want to say that our
delegation is satisfied with the results of the talks that we held
in Washington. Notably talks, not consultations. We laid on the
table proposals for a Draft Treaty on Radical Reduction of
Strategic Offensive Arms and a Draft Declaration on New Strategic
Relations between Russia and the USA. All these drafts accurately
reflect the major accords which were reached between the Russian
and US Presidents. The American side, as we could see from their
reaction, appreciated this our initiative. About its importance the
US Secretary of State told us when we met. In the United States
they are all now waiting impatiently for the visit of President
George W. Bush to Moscow and hope that important, yes, legally
binding agreements on strategic arms and strategic stability will
be reached.
Question: But how was the course of the talks affected by
the USA's recently announced new nuclear strategy, by which it is
planned to put a part of the nuclear warheads, and possibly
delivery means as well, in storage at their places of liquidation?
For in this case, rather than a reduction of nuclear weapons, one
can actually speak only of their level of battle readiness being
lowered?
Georgy Mamedov: We are carefully analyzing the just
published results of a strategic survey of the USA. The Russian
Ministry of Defense jointly with the US Defense Department have
established special working groups which, starting this month, are
already functioning and will continue their work. Besides, as a man
who not for the first year has been participating in the
negotiations to reduce strategic arms with the United States, I can
say that this process was always complicated, but we are not
starting from scratch. Between us there still operates the START I
Treaty, which will bear a binding character for another 9 years. It
prescribes clear-cut procedures which both sides are obliged to
follow in the matter of eliminating strategic offensive arms. Under
the new conditions, when we are reaching a radically lower arms
level, a firm confidence is necessary. In the Draft Treaty, which
we laid on the table during the talks in Washington, there are new
proposals that are directed to ensuring precisely the liquidation
of the carriers and the warheads alike.
© 2002 The Acronym Institute.
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