    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 3 (Monday, January 24, 1994)]
    [Pages 57-58]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Exchange With Reporters on Signing the Denuclearization Agreement With
    Russia and Ukraine in Moscow

    January 14, 1994

        Q. What will be the impact of this agreement on the national
    security of Russia?

    [[Page 58]]

        President Yeltsin. We have never believed and we have never
    perceived that there is any kind of danger coming our way from Ukraine.
    Nevertheless, in terms of world politics, today is an historic day where
    the three Presidents have signed an agreement that would eliminate
    nuclear arms from the territory of Ukraine and whereby Ukraine will be
    acceding the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. This
    will be another important step towards getting rid of nuclear weapons
    throughout the world.
        Q. There is an opinion that if the Ukraine gets rid of its nuclear
    weapons it will lose its authority, so to speak, among other nations.
    What is your opinion on this, Mr. President?
        President Clinton. Well, of course, in the end this is a question
    that Ukraine has to answer for itself, but I can only tell you what my
    opinion is. My opinion is that Ukraine will increase its authority among
    nations for doing this. After all, Ukraine has enhanced the security of
    the United States today by agreeing to remove 1,500 nuclear warheads
    aimed at our Nation. Ukraine has enhanced the security of Ukraine and
    Russia by agreeing to dismantle these warheads, which means that there
    is less chance of nuclear accident, nuclear espionage, nuclear
    terrorism.
        And more important, Ukraine has shown an understanding that as we
    move into the next century, the greatness of nations will be defined by
    their ability to work with each other and to develop the capacities of
    their people. And I think you will now see people all over the world
    more interested in working with Ukraine in partnership because of this
    very brave and visionary act. So I believe that Ukraine is a stronger
    nation today for having done this. And I think almost everyone else in
    the world will believe the same thing.
        Q. President Clinton, we've been told by one of your aides that the
    timetable for this agreement is going to remain secret. Is that in fact
    the case? Are you going to at least tell us when dismantlement of the
    first nuclear warhead in Ukraine will take place?
        President Clinton. We have reached an agreement on which details
    will be made public and which will not, and today all the things that
    can be made public will be made public. We've been working so hard on
    this, I want to be very careful about it.
        Let me tell you that I am completely comfortable with the agreements
    that we have made and with the understandings between both Russia and
    Ukraine about how it will be handled. I think it's a very good thing for
    the world and a very good thing for the United States.
        Q. What does Ukraine receive from giving the warheads and missiles
    deployed in its territory?
        President Kravchuk. From the political point of view, we get a
    greater security for having signed the documents with the Presidents.
    Both Presidents and the countries confirm this higher change of
    security. And the second point, the Ukraine confirms its policy which
    was proclaimed earlier, thus indicating the continual character of its
    policy. And the third, Ukraine receives compensation for nuclear
    weapons. And the fourth, Ukraine enters into normal relations with other
    states, and this is the primary thing for great security. I say it like
    that: if Ukraine is in friendly relations, further ties with Russia and
    the United States, it will be secure.

    Note: The exchange began at 8:55 a.m. in St. Catherine Hall at the
    Kremlin. President Yeltsin and President Kravchuk spoke in their native
    language, and their remarks were translated by an interpreter. A tape
    was not available for verification of the content of this exchange. This
    item was not received in time for publication in the appropriate issue.