[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 20 (Monday, May 20, 2002)]
[Page 811]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Departure for Chicago, Illinois

May 13, 2002

Russia-U.S. Nuclear Arms Agreement

    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 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. In his remarks, he referred to President Vladimir Putin of 
Russia.