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Joint Statement on Parameters of Future Reductions in Nuclear Forces

Joint Statement on Parameters of Future Reductions in Nuclear Forces

Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin underscore that, with the end of theCold War, major progress has been achieved with regard to strengtheningstrategic stability and nuclear security. Both the United States andRussia are significantly reducing their nuclear forces. Important stepshave been taken to detarget strategic missiles. The START I Treaty hasentered into force, and its implementation is ahead of schedule. Belarus,Kazakstan and Ukraine are nuclear-weapon free. The NuclearNon-Proliferation Treaty was indefinitely extended on May 11, 1995 and theComprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was signed by both the United Statesand Russia on September 24, 1996.

In another historic step to promote international peace and security,President Clinton and President Yeltsin hereby reaffirm their commitmentto take further concrete steps to reduce the nuclear danger and strengthenstrategic stability and nuclear security. The Presidents have reached anunderstanding on further reductions in and limitations on strategicoffensive arms that will substantially reduce the roles and risks ofnuclear weapons as we move forward into the next century. Recognizing thefundamental significance of the ABM Treaty for these objectives, thePresidents have, in a separate joint statement, given instructions ondemarcation between ABM systems and theater missile defense systems, whichwill allow for deployment of effective theater missile defenses andprevent circumvention of the ABM Treaty.

With the foregoing in mind, President Clinton and President Yeltsinhave reached the following understandings.

Once START II enters into force, the United States and Russia willimmediately begin negotiations on a START III agreement, which willinclude, among other things, the following basic components:

Establishment, by December 31, 2007, of lower aggregate levels of2,000-2,500 strategic nuclear warheads for each of the parties.
Measures relating to the transparency of strategic nuclear warheadinventories and the destruction of strategic nuclear warheads and anyother jointly agreed technical and organizational measures, to promotethe irreversibility of deep reductions including prevention of a rapidincrease in the number of warheads.
Resolving issues related to the goal of making the current STARTtreaties unlimited in duration.
Placement in a deactivated status of all strategic nuclear deliveryvehicles which will be eliminated under START II by December 31, 2003,by removing their nuclear warheads or taking other jointly agreed steps.The United States is providing assistance through the Nunn-Lugar programto facilitate early deactivation.

The Presidents have reached an understanding that the deadline for theelimination of strategic nuclear delivery vehicles under the START IITreaty will be extended to December 31, 2007. The sides will agree onspecific language to be submitted to the Duma and, following Duma approvalof START II, to be submitted to the United States Senate.

In this context, the Presidents underscore the importance of prompt ratification of the START II Treaty by the State Duma of the Russian Federation.

The Presidents also agreed that in the context of START III negotiationstheir experts will explore, as separate issues, possible measures relatingto nuclear long-range sea-launched cruise missiles and tactical nuclearsystems, to include appropriate confidence-building and transparencymeasures.

Taking into account all the understandings outlined above, and recallingtheir statement of May 10, 1995, the Presidents agreed the sides will alsoconsider the issues related to transparency in nuclear materials.