    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [May 13, 2002]
    [Pages 783-784]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Russia-United States Strategic Offensive Reductions
    Agreement
    May 13, 2002

        The President. Good morning.
        The Press. Good morning.
        The President. Today I'm pleased to announce that the United States
    and Russia has agreed to a treaty which will substantially reduce our
    nuclear arsenals to the agreed-upon range of 1,700 to 2,200 warheads.
    This treaty will liquidate the legacy of the cold war.
        When I sign the treaty with President Putin in Russia, it will begin the new era of U.S.-Russian
    relationships. And that's important. The new era will be a period of
    enhanced mutual security, economic security, and improved relations.
        I look forward to going to Moscow to sign this treaty. It is--it
    will be the culmination of a lot of months of hard work and a
    relationship built on mutual trust that

    [[Page 784]]

    I established with President Putin in
    Slovenia.
        This is good news for the American people today. It'll make the
    world more peaceful, and put behind us the cold war once and for all.
        Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 8:32 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White
    House, prior to his departure for Chicago, IL. In his remarks, he
    referred to President Vladimir Putin of Russia.