[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 3 (Monday, January 24, 1994)]
[Pages 84-86]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
<R04>
Moscow Declaration
January 14, 1994
President of the United States William J. Clinton and President of
the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin, having met together in Moscow from
January 12-15, 1994, reaffirmed the fundamental importance of U.S.-
Russian cooperation based upon the Charter of American-Russian
Partnership and Friendship, the Vancouver Declaration, and existing
treaties and agreements. They noted with satisfaction that the
relationship between the United States and Russia has entered a new
stage of mature strategic partnership based on equality, mutual
advantage, and recognition of each other's national interests. From this
perspective, they reviewed the full range of bilateral and international
issues.
The two Presidents had an extensive discussion of security issues,
including arms reduction and nonproliferation. Both parties expressed
concern over increasing challenges to global nonproliferation regimes.
They agreed upon the need to strengthen those regimes and to create,
together with other interested states, a new mechanism to enhance
transparency and responsibility in the transfer of conventional arms and
sensitive dual-use technologies. They also strongly supported completion
of negotiations on a comprehensive test ban at the earliest possible
time. The two Presidents reiterated their support for a cutoff of
production of fissile materials for weapons and considered new measures
to strengthen strategic stability.
Based on ongoing discussions of strategic disengagement measures
between the ministries of defense of the two countries, the Presidents
announced that they would direct the detargeting of strategic nuclear
missiles under their respective commands so that by not later than May
30, 1994, those missiles will not be targeted. Thus, for the first time
in nearly half a century--virtually since the dawn of the nuclear age--
the United States and Russia will not operate nuclear forces, day-to-
day, in a manner that presumes they are adversaries.
President Clinton and President Yeltsin expressed satisfaction with
the accelerating development of a wide range of economic, scientific and
technological relationships between the United States and Russia. They
also reaffirmed their strong support for the rapid growth of bilateral
trade and investment as a special priority. In their view, the Gore-
Chernomyrdin Commission has become a dynamic and effective mechanism for
coordination and expansion of U.S.-Russian cooperation. A key expression
of this relationship is U.S.-Russian joint cooperation in space,
especially their partnership, with other interested parties, in the
construction of a space station.
The two Presidents reaffirmed their readiness to move forward on the
path of openness and mutual trust in American-Russian relations and to
create favorable conditions for the comprehensive development of
political, commercial, humanitarian, and people-to-people contacts
between the two countries. In this connection, a mutual interest in
enlarging the consular presence on each other's territory was expressed.
In particular, the American side intends to open a Consulate General in
Yekaterinburg in February 1994.
With the approval by the U.S. Congress of NAFTA and the successful
completion of the Uruguay Round of global trade negotiations, President
Clinton and President Yeltsin welcomed the accelerating progress toward
creation of an open and prosperous world economy and trading system.
President Yeltsin informed President Clinton of recent steps among the
member states of the
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Commonwealth of Independent States toward increased economic
coordination and cooperation. The two Presidents agreed that such
initiatives, pursued in an open and voluntary manner consistent with
GATT rules and procedures, should be conducive to the rapid inclusion of
all the participating states into the global economy.
In this context, President Clinton and President Yeltsin exchanged
views on the economic strategies of their respective governments.
President Yeltsin described the economic situation in Russia. He
affirmed the irreversibility of Russia's transition to a market economy
and his intention to further promote reforms and to address social needs
associated with this transition. President Clinton stressed his strong
support for Russian reform and suggested that social issues could be a
new and promising area for cooperation.
President Clinton and President Yeltsin noted with satisfaction that
the end of the Cold War has brought continuous progress toward
overcoming the division of the European continent and opened the way for
broad cooperation among European states on a new agenda of urgent tasks,
with priority being given to preventive diplomacy, peacekeeping and
protection of human rights and the rights of national and other
minorities. In this connection, the two Presidents welcomed the
decisions of the CSCE Foreign Ministers' meeting in Rome which they
consider to be an important step in making the CSCE a key mechanism of
international cooperation in Europe.
Proceeding from the conviction that new divisions of Europe must be
avoided, President Clinton and President Yeltsin agreed upon the need to
create a new European security order that is inclusive, non-
discriminatory and focused on practical political and security
cooperation. The two Presidents agreed that the concept of the
Partnership for Peace adopted at the Brussels meeting of the NATO member
states is an important element of an emerging new European security
architecture.
President Yeltsin informed President Clinton of Russia's intention
to participate actively in the Partnership for Peace and to conclude
substantive agreements opening the way for broad and intensive
cooperation between Russia and NATO as a partner. Taking into account
Russia's international role, President Clinton welcomed the prospect of
Russia's active participation in the Partnership for Peace.
The two Presidents condemned aggressive nationalism, violations of
human rights, and ethnic and religious intolerance of any kind,
including anti-Semitism. They expressed serious concern about the
existence and potential for intensification of conflicts in the former
Yugoslavia and a number of the New Independent States of the former
Soviet Union. President Yeltsin apprised President Clinton of the
peacekeeping efforts undertaken by Russia on the territory of the former
USSR. The two Presidents are determined to intensify the coordination of
their efforts, within the framework of the United Nations and the CSCE,
to promote rapid and peaceful resolution of conflicts on conditions that
correspond to generally accepted standards of international law,
including respect for the independence, sovereignty, and existing
borders of the New Independent States of the former Soviet Union.
The two Presidents reaffirmed the support of the United States and
Russia for the United Nations. They will act with other countries to
strengthen the potential of the UN to support and establish peace and
prevent conflict. The two sides will work out practical activities among
themselves and other countries to improve preparation for participation
in UN peacekeeping operations. In connection with the upcoming 50th
anniversary of the UN, President Clinton and President Yeltsin consider
it important to convene at the appropriate time a meet of the heads of
state and government of the members of the UN Security Council for a
review of the work established for the UN at the January 1992 Security
Council summit and an examination of tasks for the future.
President Clinton and President Yeltsin are convinced that the
United States and Russia will continue to consolidate their partnership
and together promote global stability, peace, and prosperity.
Done in Moscow on January 14, 1994, in the English and Russian
languages.
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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.