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Disarmament DocumentationRussia-US Arms Control Discussions, February 19'Russian-American Talks on Strategic Relationship and SOW [strategic offensive weapons] Reduction', Russian Foreign Ministry Statement, Document 290-19-02-2002, February 19. The second round of Russian-American talks on the issues of START/ABM and the formation of a new framework for strategic relations between the two countries took place [in Moscow] on February 19. The Russian interagency delegation was headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Georgy Mamedov; the American was led by US Under Secretary of State John R. Bolton. Mr. Bolton was received by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Igor Ivanov. The focus of the talks was questions of the promotion of strategic stability and international security, nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. The sides agreed to intensify efforts in the preparation of Russian-American documents, in particular, a legally binding agreement on a radical reduction in strategic offensive weapons and a declaration on the formation of a new strategic relationship between Russia and the United States in line with the specific accords reached between the two countries' Presidents ahead of the upcoming (May 2002) summit in Moscow. The drafts of these documents, handed over by the Russian side during the first round of talks [in January], were substantively discussed. The American side submitted its proposals. Both sides agreed to hold the next round of talks in March. © 2002 The Acronym Institute. |