13 June 2002
Bush Pledges Greater Dialogue, Cooperation on Missile Defense
(Formal ABM Treaty withdrawal takes effect June 13) (580)
President Bush pledged to deepen U.S. dialogue and cooperation with
other nations on missile defense now that the 1972 Anti-Ballistic
Missile (ABM) Treaty is no longer in effect.
With the formal treaty withdrawal taking effect on June 13, Bush said,
"our task is to develop and deploy effective defenses against limited
missile attacks." Because missile threats pose a danger to U.S. allies
and friends around the world, he said, "it is essential that we work
together to defend against them -- an important task which the ABM
Treaty prohibited."
Missile defense cooperation will make an important contribution to
building the U.S.-Russian relationship, the president said in a June
13 White House statement.
He called on Congress to approve the full amount of funding he seeks
for missile defense in next year's budget.
Following is the text of the Bush statement:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
June 13, 2002
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
Six months ago, I announced that the United States was withdrawing
from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, and today that
withdrawal formally takes effect. With the Treaty now behind us, our
task is to develop and deploy effective defenses against limited
missile attacks. As the events of September 11 made clear, we no
longer live in the Cold War world for which the ABM Treaty was
designed. We now face new threats from terrorists who seek to destroy
our civilization by any means available to rogue states armed with
weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles. Defending the
American people against these threats is my highest priority as
Commander-in-Chief.
The new strategic challenges of the 21st century require us to think
differently. But they also require us to act. I call on the Congress
to approve the full amount of the funding I have requested in my
budget for missile defense. This will permit the United States to work
closely with all nations committed to freedom to pursue the policies
and capabilities needed to make the world a safer place for
generations to come.
I am committed to deploying a missile defense system as soon as
possible to protect the American people and our deployed forces
against the growing missile threats we face. Because these threats
also endanger our allies and friends around the world, it is essential
that we work together to defend against them, an important task which
the ABM Treaty prohibited. The United States will deepen our dialogue
and cooperation with other nations on missile defenses.
Last month, President Vladimir Putin and I agreed that Russia and the
United States would look for ways to cooperate on missile defenses,
including expanding military exercises, sharing early-warning data,
and exploring potential joint research and development of missile
defense technologies. Over the past year, our countries have worked
hard to overcome the legacy of the Cold War and to dismantle its
structures. The United States and Russia are building a new
relationship based on common interests and, increasingly, common
values. Under the Treaty of Moscow, the nuclear arsenals of our
nations will be reduced to their lowest levels in decades. Cooperation
on missile defense will also make an important contribution to
furthering the relationship we both seek.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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