[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 3 (Monday, January 24, 1994)]
[Pages 79-80]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
<R04>
Statement by the Presidents of the United States, Russia, and Ukraine
January 14, 1994
Presidents Clinton, Yeltsin and Kravchuk met in Moscow on January
14. The three Presidents reiterated that they will deal with one another
as full and equal partners and that relations among their countries must
be conducted on the basis of respect for the independence, sovereignty
and territorial integrity of each nation.
The three Presidents agreed on the importance of developing mutually
beneficial, comprehensive and cooperative economic relations. In this
connection, they welcomed the intention of the United States to provide
assistance to Ukraine and Russia to support the creation of effective
market economies.
The three Presidents reviewed the progress that has been made in
reducing nuclear forces. Deactivation of strategic forces is already
well underway in the United States, Russia and Ukraine. The Presidents
welcomed the ongoing deactivation of RS-18s (SS-19s) and RS-22s (SS-24s)
on Ukrainian territory by having their warheads removed.
The Presidents look forward to the entry into force of the START I
Treaty, including the Lisbon Protocol and associated documents, and
President Kravchuk reiterated his commitment that Ukraine accede to the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a nonnuclear-weapon state in the
shortest possible time. Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin noted that entry
into force of START I will allow them to seek early ratification of
START II. The Presidents discussed, in this regard, steps their
countries would take to resolve certain nuclear weapons questions.
The Presidents emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and
security of nuclear weapons pending their dismantlement.
The Presidents recognize the importance of compensation to Ukraine,
Kazakhstan and Belarus for the value of the highly-enriched uranium in
nuclear warheads located on their territories. Arrangements have been
worked out to provide fair and timely compensation to Ukraine,
Kazakhstan and Belarus as the nuclear warheads on their territory are
transferred to Russia for dismantling.
Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin expressed satisfaction with the
completion of the highly-enriched uranium contract, which was signed by
appropriate authorities of the United States and Russia. By converting
weapons-grade uranium into uranium which can only be used for peaceful
purposes, the highly-enriched uranium agreement is a major step forward
in fulfilling the countries' mutual non-proliferation objectives.
The three Presidents decided on simultaneous actions on transfer of
nuclear warheads from Ukraine and delivery of compensation to Ukraine in
the form of fuel assemblies for nuclear power stations.
Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin informed President Kravchuk that the
United States
[[Page 80]]
and Russia are prepared to provide security assurances to Ukraine. In
particular, once the START I Treaty enters into force and Ukraine
becomes a non-nuclear-weapon state party to the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the United States and Russia will:
--Reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine, in accordance with the
principles of the CSCE Final Act, to respect the independence and
sovereignty and the existing borders of the CSCE member states and
recognize that border changes can be made only by peaceful and
consensual means; and reaffirm their obligation to refrain from
the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or
political independence of any state, and that none of their
weapons will ever be used except in self-defense or otherwise in
accordance with the Charter of the United Nations;
--Reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine, in accordance with the
principles of the CSCE Final Act, to refrain from economic
coercion designed to subordinate to their own interest the
exercise by another CSCE participating state of the rights
inherent in its sovereignty and thus to secure advantages of any
kind;
--Reaffirm their commitment to seek immediate UN Security Council
action to provide assistance to Ukraine, as a non-nuclear-weapon
state party to the NPT, if Ukraine should become a victim of an
act of aggression or an object of a threat of aggression in which
nuclear weapons are used; and
--Reaffirm, in the case of Ukraine, their commitment not to use
nuclear weapons against any non-nuclear-weapon state party to the
NPT, except in the case of an attack on themselves, their
territories or dependent territories, their armed forces, or their
allies, by such a state in association or alliance with a nuclear
weapon state.
Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin informed President Kravchuk that
consultations have been held with the United Kingdom, the third
depositary state of the NPT, and the United Kingdom is prepared to offer
the same security assurances to Ukraine once it becomes a non-nuclear-
weapon state party to the NPT.
President Clinton reaffirmed the United States commitment to provide
technical and financial assistance for the safe and secure dismantling
of nuclear forces and storage of fissile materials. The United States
has agreed under the Nunn-Lugar program to provide Russia, Ukraine,
Kazakhstan and Belarus with nearly USD 800 million in such assistance,
including a minimum of USD 175 million to Ukraine. The United States
Congress has authorized additional Nunn-Lugar funds for this program,
and the United States will work intensively with Russia, Ukraine,
Kazakhstan and Belarus to expand assistance for this important purpose.
The United States will also work to promote rapid implementation of the
assistance agreements that are already in place.
Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
this communique. This item was not received in time for publication in
the appropriate issue.