The arms control agenda at the Helsinki summit
In an effort to address Russian concerns over the residual force levels and timing of reductions of START II, the two presidents agreed once START II enters into force to begin immediately negotiations on a START II agreement which would reduce deployed strategic warheads by 1,000 below START II levels. In addition, they agreed to extend by five years the deadline for reaching START II levels for deployed strategic warheads. In a {open_quotes}Joint Statement on Parameters on Future Reductions in Nuclear Forces{close_quotes}, the presidents agreed that the START III negotiations will include four basic components a limit of 2,000-2,500 deployed strategic nuclear warheads for each side by the end of 2007; measures relating to the transparency of strategic nuclear warhead inventories as well as to the destruction of strategic warheads; conversion of the current START agreements to unlimited duration; and the {open_quotes}deactivation{close_quotes} by the end of 2003 of all strategic nuclear delivery vehicles to be eliminated under START II. In a separate {open_quotes}Joint Statement Concerning the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty{close_quotes}, agreement was also reached in principle on the next steps in the effort to regulate the deployment of higher-velocity (above 3 kilometers per second) theater missile defense (TMD) systems which are permitted by, but some fear could circumvent, the 1972 ABM Treaty. On the basis of the joint statements on START II/III and higher-velocity TMD systems, Yeltsin pledged to seek the prompt ratification of START II by the Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament.
- OSTI ID:
- 530822
- Journal Information:
- Arms Control Today, Journal Name: Arms Control Today Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 27; ISSN ACOTEB; ISSN 0196-125X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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