[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book I)]
[January 14, 1994]
[Pages 74-75]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Moscow Declaration 
January 14, 1994

    President of the United States William J. Clinton and President of 
the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin, having met together in Moscow from 
January 12-15, 1994, reaffirmed the fundamental importance of U.S.-
Russian cooperation based upon the Charter of American-Russian 
Partnership and Friendship, the Vancouver Declaration, and existing 
treaties and agreements. They noted with satisfaction that the 
relationship between the United States and Russia has entered a new 
stage of mature strategic partnership based on equality, mutual 
advantage, and recognition of each other's national interests. From this 
perspective, they reviewed the full range of bilateral and international 
issues.
    The two Presidents had an extensive discussion of security issues, 
including arms reduction and nonproliferation. Both parties expressed 
concern over increasing challenges to global nonproliferation regimes. 
They agreed upon the need to strengthen those regimes and to create, 
together with other interested states, a new mechanism to enhance 
transparency and responsibility in the transfer of conventional arms and 
sensitive dual-use technologies. They also strongly supported completion 
of negotiations on a comprehensive test ban at the earliest possible 
time. The two Presidents reiterated their support for a cutoff of 
production of fissile materials for weapons and considered new measures 
to strengthen strategic stability.
    Based on ongoing discussions of strategic disengagement measures 
between the ministries of defense of the two countries, the Presidents 
announced that they would direct the detargeting of strategic nuclear 
missiles under their respective commands so that by not later than May 
30, 1994, those missiles will not be targeted. Thus, for the first time 
in nearly half a century--virtually since the dawn of the nuclear age--
the United States and Russia will not operate nuclear forces, day-to-
day, in a manner that presumes they are adversaries.
    President Clinton and President Yeltsin expressed satisfaction with 
the accelerating development of a wide range of economic, scientific and 
technological relationships between the United States and Russia. They 
also reaffirmed their strong support for the rapid growth of bilateral 
trade and investment as a special priority. In their view, the Gore-
Chernomyrdin Commission has become a dynamic and effective mechanism for 
coordination and expansion of U.S.-Russian cooperation. A key expression 
of this relationship is U.S.-Russian joint cooperation in space, 
especially their partnership, with other interested parties, in the 
construction of a space station.
    The two Presidents reaffirmed their readiness to move forward on the 
path of openness and mutual trust in American-Russian relations and to 
create favorable conditions for the comprehensive development of 
political, commercial, humanitarian, and people-to-people contacts 
between the two countries. In this connection, a mutual interest in 
enlarging the consular presence on each other's territory was expressed. 
In particular, the American side intends to open a Consulate General in 
Yekaterinburg in February 1994.
    With the approval by the U.S. Congress of NAFTA and the successful 
completion of the Uruguay Round of global trade negotiations, President 
Clinton and President Yeltsin wel-


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comed the accelerating progress toward creation of an open and 
prosperous world economy and trading system. President Yeltsin informed 
President Clinton of recent steps among the member states of the 
Commonwealth of Independent States toward increased economic 
coordination and cooperation. The two Presidents agreed that such 
initiatives, pursued in an open and voluntary manner consistent with 
GATT rules and procedures, should be conducive to the rapid inclusion of 
all the participating states into the global economy.
    In this context, President Clinton and President Yeltsin exchanged 
views on the economic strategies of their respective governments. 
President Yeltsin described the economic situation in Russia. He 
affirmed the irreversibility of Russia's transition to a market economy 
and his intention to further promote reforms and to address social needs 
associated with this transition. President Clinton stressed his strong 
support for Russian reform and suggested that social issues could be a 
new and promising area for cooperation.
    President Clinton and President Yeltsin noted with satisfaction that 
the end of the Cold War has brought continuous progress toward 
overcoming the division of the European continent and opened the way for 
broad cooperation among European states on a new agenda of urgent tasks, 
with priority being given to preventive diplomacy, peacekeeping and 
protection of human rights and the rights of national and other 
minorities. In this connection, the two Presidents welcomed the 
decisions of the CSCE Foreign Ministers' meeting in Rome which they 
consider to be an important step in making the CSCE a key mechanism of 
international cooperation in Europe.
    Proceeding from the conviction that new divisions of Europe must be 
avoided, President Clinton and President Yeltsin agreed upon the need to 
create a new European security order that is inclusive, non-
discriminatory and focused on practical political and security 
cooperation. The two Presidents agreed that the concept of the 
Partnership for Peace adopted at the Brussels meeting of the NATO member 
states is an important element of an emerging new European security 
architecture.
    President Yeltsin informed President Clinton of Russia's intention 
to participate actively in the Partnership for Peace and to conclude 
substantive agreements opening the way for broad and intensive 
cooperation between Russia and NATO as a partner. Taking into account 
Russia's international role, President Clinton welcomed the prospect of 
Russia's active participation in the Partnership for Peace.
    The two Presidents condemned aggressive nationalism, violations of 
human rights, and ethnic and religious intolerance of any kind, 
including anti-Semitism. They expressed serious concern about the 
existence and potential for intensification of conflicts in the former 
Yugoslavia and a number of the New Independent States of the former 
Soviet Union. President Yeltsin apprised President Clinton of the 
peacekeeping efforts undertaken by Russia on the territory of the former 
USSR. The two Presidents are determined to intensify the coordination of 
their efforts, within the framework of the United Nations and the CSCE, 
to promote rapid and peaceful resolution of conflicts on conditions that 
correspond to generally accepted standards of international law, 
including respect for the independence, sovereignty, and existing 
borders of the New Independent States of the former Soviet Union.
    The two Presidents reaffirmed the support of the United States and 
Russia for the United Nations. They will act with other countries to 
strengthen the potential of the UN to support and establish peace and 
prevent conflict. The two sides will work out practical activities among 
themselves and other countries to improve preparation for participation 
in UN peacekeeping operations. In connection with the upcoming 50th 
anniversary of the UN, President Clinton and President Yeltsin consider 
it important to convene at the appropriate time a meet of the heads of 
state and government of the members of the UN Security Council for a 
review of the work established for the UN at the January 1992 Security 
Council summit and an examination of tasks for the future.
     President Clinton and President Yeltsin are convinced that the 
United States and Russia will continue to consolidate their partnership 
and together promote global stability, peace, and prosperity.
    Done in Moscow on January 14, 1994, in the English and Russian 
languages.

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this communique.