    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [June 1, 2003]
    [Page 584]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Joint Statement by President George W. Bush and President Vladimir V.
    Putin on the New Strategic Relationship
    June 1, 2003

        On May 24, 2002, we pledged to build a new strategic relationship
    between the United States of America and the Russian Federation. We
    declared our partnership, and our commitment to work together to advance
    stability, security, and prosperity for our peoples, and to work jointly
    to counter global challenges and help resolve regional conflicts. We
    also declared that where we had differences, we would work to resolve
    them in a spirit of mutual respect.
        We have met again to reaffirm our Nations' partnership and our
    commitment to meet together the challenges of the 21st century.
        With the completion of the ratification procedures by the United
    States Senate, and the two houses of the Russian Federal Assembly, we
    have been able to exchange instruments of ratification for the Moscow
    Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions. The Treaty takes effect
    immediately. The deep reductions of strategic nuclear warheads that it
    codifies are another indication of the transformed relationship between
    our two countries.
        We will intensify efforts to confront the global threats of
    terrorism, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and
    their means of delivery, that threaten our peoples and freedom-loving
    peoples around the world.
        In this regard, we declare our intention to advance concrete joint
    projects in the area of missile defense which will help deepen relations
    between the United States and Russia.

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