    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [April 14, 2000]
    [Page 716]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Russian State Duma Action on the START II Treaty
    April 14, 2000

        I am very pleased that the Russian State Duma today approved the
    START II Treaty--a critical step toward the treaty's entering into
    force. This action builds on decades of cooperation between the United
    States and Russia to reduce nuclear arms and clearly advances the
    interests of both countries. Together with the START I Treaty, it will
    result in a two-thirds reduction in the strategic nuclear weapons that
    the Soviet Union and the United States maintained at the height of the
    cold war. START II will make our people safer and our partnership with a
    democratic Russia stronger. It will open the door to further significant
    steps to reduce nuclear arms and the nuclear danger, a course that is
    strongly supported by the international community and has strong
    bipartisan support in the United States.
        I congratulate President-elect Putin and
    his government, members of the State Duma, and Russian citizens who
    supported this giant step toward a safer future. I look forward to
    prompt action on the treaty by the Federation Council. Now, we and
    Russia can and must seize this opportunity to intensify our discussions
    on both START III and the ABM Treaty, so we can take further concrete
    steps this year to strengthen the security of the United States, Russia,
    and indeed the whole world.