    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [March 21, 1997]
    [Pages 341-342]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Russia-United States Joint Statement Concerning the Anti-Ballistic
    Missile Treaty
    March 21, 1997

        President Clinton and President Yeltsin, expressing their commitment
    to strengthening strategic stability and international security,
    emphasizing the importance of further reductions in strategic offensive
    arms, and recognizing the fundamental significance of the Anti-Ballistic
    Missile (ABM) Treaty for these objectives as well as the necessity for
    effective theater missile defense (TMD) systems, consider it their
    common task to preserve the ABM Treaty, prevent circumvention of it, and
    enhance its viability.
        The Presidents reaffirm the principles of their May 10, 1995 Joint
    Statement, which will serve as a basis for reaching agreement on
    demarcation between ABM systems and theater missile defense systems,
    including:
        --The United States and Russia are each committed to the ABM Treaty,
            a cornerstone of strategic stability.
        --Both sides must have the option to establish and to deploy
            effective theater missile defense systems. Such activity must
            not lead to violation or circumvention of the ABM Treaty.
        --Theater missile defense systems may be deployed by each side which
            (1) will not pose a realistic threat to the strategic nuclear
            force of the other side and (2) will not be tested to give such
            systems that capability.
        --Theater missile defense systems will not be deployed by the sides
            for use against each other.
        --The scale of deployment--in number and geographic scope--of
            theater missile defense systems by either side will be
            consistent with theater ballistic missile programs confronting
            that side.
        In this connection, the United States and Russia have recently
    devoted special attention to developing measures aimed at assuring
    confidence of the Parties that their ballistic missile defense
    activities will not lead to circumvention of the ABM Treaty, to which
    the Parties have repeatedly reaffirmed their adherence.
        The efforts undertaken by the Parties in this regard are reflected
    in the Joint Statement of the Presidents of the United States and Russia
    issued on September 28, 1994, as well as in that of May 10, 1995.
    Important decisions were made at the United States-Russia summit meeting
    on April 23, 1996.
        In order to fulfill one of the primary obligations under the ABM
    Treaty--the obligation not to give non-ABM systems capabilities to
    counter strategic ballistic missiles and not to test them in an ABM
    mode--the Presidents have instructed their respective delegations to
    complete the preparation of an agreement to ensure fulfillment of this
    requirement.
        In Standing Consultative Commission (SCC) negotiations on the
    problem of demarcation between TMD systems and ABM systems, the United
    States and Russia, together with Belarus, Kazakstan and Ukraine,
    successfully finished negotiations on demarcation with respect to lower-
    velocity TMD systems. The Presidents note that agreements were also
    reached in 1996 with respect to confidence-building measures and ABM
    Treaty succession. The Presidents have instructed their experts to
    complete an agreement as soon as possible for prompt signature on
    higher-velocity TMD systems.

    [[Page 342]]

        Neither side has plans before April 1999 to flight test, against a
    ballistic target missile, TMD interceptor missiles subject to the
    agreement on demarcation with respect to higher velocity TMD systems.
    Neither side has plans for TMD systems with interceptor missiles faster
    than 5.5 km/sec for land-based and air-based systems or 4.5 km/sec for
    sea-based systems. Neither side has plans to test TMD systems against
    target missiles with MIRVs or against reentry vehicles deployed or
    planned to be deployed on strategic ballistic missiles.
        The elements for the agreement on higher-velocity TMD systems are:
        The velocity of the ballistic target missiles will not
                exceed 5 km/sec.
        The flight range of the ballistic target missiles will not
                exceed 3500 km.
        The sides will not develop, test, or deploy space-based TMD
                interceptor missiles or components based on other physical
                principles that are capable of substituting for such
                interceptor missiles.
        The sides will exchange detailed information annually on TMD
                plans and programs.
        The Presidents noted that TMD technology is in its early stages and
    continues to evolve. They agreed that developing effective TMD while
    maintaining a viable ABM Treaty will require continued consultations. To
    this end, they reaffirm that their representatives to the Standing
    Consultative Commission will discuss, as foreseen under the ABM Treaty,
    any questions or concerns either side may have regarding TMD activities,
    including matters related to the agreement to be completed on higher-
    velocity systems, which will be based on this joint statement by the two
    Presidents, with a view to precluding violation or circumvention of the
    ABM Treaty. These consultations will be facilitated by the agreed
    detailed annual information exchange on TMD plans and programs.
        The Presidents also agreed that there is considerable scope for
    cooperation in theater missile defense. They are prepared to explore
    integrated cooperative defense efforts, inter alia, in the provision of
    early warning support for TMD activities, technology cooperation in
    areas related to TMD, and expansion of the ongoing program of
    cooperation in TMD exercises.
        In resolving the tasks facing them, the Parties will act in a spirit
    of cooperation, mutual openness, and commitment to the ABM Treaty.

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