    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [March 21, 1997]
    [Pages 340-341]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Russia-United States Joint Statement on Parameters on Future Reduction
    in Nuclear Forces
    March 21, 1997

        Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin underscore that, with the end of the
    Cold War, major progress has been achieved with regard to strengthening
    strategic stability and nuclear security. Both the United States and
    Russia are significantly reducing their nuclear forces. Important steps
    have been taken to detarget strategic missiles. The START I Treaty has
    entered into force, and its implementation is ahead of schedule.
    Belarus, Kazakstan, and Ukraine are nuclear-weapon free. The Nuclear
    Non-Proliferation Treaty was indefinitely extended on May 11, 1995 and
    the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was signed by both the United
    States and Russia on September 24, 1996.
        In another historic step to promote international peace and
    security, President Clinton and President Yeltsin hereby reaffirm their
    commitment to take further concrete steps to reduce the nuclear danger
    and strengthen strategic stability and nuclear security. The Presidents
    have reached an understanding on further reductions in and limitations
    on strategic offensive arms that will substantially reduce the roles and
    risks of nuclear weapons as we move forward into the next century.
    Recognizing the fundamental significance of the ABM Treaty for these
    objectives, the Presidents have, in a separate joint statement, given
    instructions on demarcation between ABM systems and theater missile
    defense systems, which will allow for deployment of effective theater
    missile defense and prevent circumvention of the ABM Treaty.
        With the foregoing in mind, President Clinton and President Yeltsin
    have reached the following understandings.
        Once START II enters into force, the United States and Russia will
    immediately begin negotiations on a START III agreement, which will
    include, among other things, the following basic components:
        Establishment, by December 31, 2007, of lower aggregate
                levels of 2,000-2,500 strategic nuclear warheads for each of
                the parties.
        Measures relating to the transparency of strategic nuclear
                warhead inventories and the destruction of strategic nuclear
                warheads and any other jointly agreed technical and
                organizational measures, to promote the irreversibility of
                deep reductions including prevention of a rapid increase in
                the number of warheads.
        Resolving issues related to the goal of making the current
                START treaties unlimited in duration.
        Placement in a deactivated status of all strategic nuclear
                delivery vehicles 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 program to
                facilitate early deactivation.
        The Presidents have reached an understanding that the deadline for
    the elimination of strategic nuclear delivery vehicles under the START
    II Treaty will be extended to December 31, 2007. The sides will agree on
    specific language to be submitted to the Duma and, following Duma
    approval of 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.

    [[Page 341]]

        The Presidents also agreed that in the context of START III
    negotiations their experts will explore, as separate issues, possible
    measures relating to nuclear long-range sea-launched cruise missiles and
    tactical nuclear systems, to include appropriate confidence-building and
    transparency measures.
        Taking into account all the understandings outlined above, and
    recalling their statement of May 10, 1995, the Presidents agreed the
    sides will also consider the issues related to transparency in nuclear
    materials.

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement.