TOWARD THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE TREATY ON THE LIMITATION OF ANTIBALLISTIC MISSILE SYSTEMS

Unofficial translation from Russian

PRESS RELEASE

The Treaty on the Limitation of Antiballistic Missile Systems (ABM Treaty) was signed between the USSR and the USA on May 26, 1972. Taking a decision to conclude this Treaty, the sides had drawn the conclusion that the development of antiballistic missile systems might lead to a race not only in defensive, but also in offensive strategic systems, and that there exists a close organic link between such arms influencing global strategic stability.

Thanks to the ABM Treaty the limitation and reduction of the strategic offensive arms of the two countries, the process of real nuclear disarmament began, thus reinforcing international security as a whole, which was of particular importance in the conditions of military-political confrontation between the USSR and the USA in the Cold War years.

As is known, the USA has made a decision to quit the ABM Treaty, which will take place on June 13, 2002. Russia gave an assessment to this decision as erroneous. Our country had done everything within its power to preserve the Treaty, and this stand of Russia had received wide support from the world community.

At the same time Russia has not ceased dialoguing with the USA on ABM defense, believing that answers to new challenges can and need to be sought together and on a multilateral basis. The Russian-US agreements on military-political issues, signed on May 24, 2002, envisage the interconnection between strategic offensive arms and defensive systems. The discussion of these questions will be continued in the course of the construction of the new strategic relationship between the two countries.

May 25, 2002