ALBRIGHT LETTER ON EARLY DEACTIVATION
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
WASHINGTON
Dear Mr. Minister:
On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I have the
honor to accept the proposal set forth in your letter of this date to conclude,
in connection with the Treaty Between the United States of America and
the Russian Federation on Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic
Offensive Arms of January 3, 1993, hereinafter referred to as the Treaty,
agreement between our Governments on deactivation of certain strategic
nuclear delivery vehicles.
Under this agreement our Governments would agree that upon entry into force
of the Treaty, the United States of America and the Russian Federation
shall deactivate, by December 31, 2003, all strategic nuclear delivery
vehicles which will be eliminated under the Treaty, by removing their nuclear
reentry vehicles or taking other jointly agreed steps.
Immediately upon entry into force of the Treaty, the experts of the Parties
will begin work simultaneously both on the understandings concerning methods
of deactivation as well as parameters of an appropriate program of assistance
of the United States of America in implementation of the deactivation mentioned
above. Practical steps to implement deactivation will be undertaken on
the basis of these understandings.
The Government of the United States of America notes the statement of the
Russian Federation position on the issue of START III entry into force.
This response together with your letter shall constitute agreement between
the Governments of the United States of America and the Russian Federation,
which shall enter into force on the date of entry into force of the Treaty
and shall remain in force as long as the Treaty remains in force.
Please accept, Mr. Minister, the assurances of my highest consideration.
| Sincerely,
Madeline K. Albright |
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