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27 July 1999

Text: White House Release on Gore-Stepashin Meetings July 27

(U.S.-Russia ties essential component of global stability) (590)
Strong U.S.-Russia ties "will be an essential component of American
national security and global stability" in the new millenium, says
U.S. Vice President Al Gore.
Gore's comment was included in a statement issued by the White House
July 27 after an executive session of the U.S.-Russia Joint Commission
on Economic and Technological Cooperation, which Gore co-chairs with
Russian Prime Minister Sergey Stepashin.
The two set priorities for the future work of the Commission,
including cooperation on the Year 2000 computer problem, promotion of
investment and economic growth in Russia, cooperation in law
enforcement, and the tightening of Russia's export controls to halt
nuclear and missile proliferation to rogue states.
Gore and Stepashin also met with President Clinton July 27, after
which it was announced that the United States and Russia would begin
discussions on START III and the ABM Treaty next month in Moscow.
Following is the text of the July 27 White House statement:
(begin text)
The White House
Office of the Vice President
Tuesday, July 27, 1999
VICE PRESIDENT GORE AND PRIME MINISTER STEPASHIN RESUME WORK OF
U.S.-RUSSIA BINATIONAL COMMISSION
In Series of Meetings, Gore and Stephashin Discuss Economic Reform,
Arms Control, Non-Proliferation and Other Issues
Washington, D.C. -- Vice President Al Gore and Russian Prime Minister
Sergey Stepashin -- co-chairs of the U.S.-Russian Joint Commission on
Economic and Technological Cooperation -- put U.S.-Russian relations
back on track today with detailed discussions on economic and security
issues. They also met with President Clinton, and announced this
afternoon that the two countries would begin discussions on START III
and the ABM Treaty next month in Moscow. Today's announcement follows
an agreement reached by President Clinton and President Yeltsin at the
G-8 Summit in Cologne that discussion would begin this summer on START
III and ABM.
"The United States and Russia have long understood that reducing
nuclear arsenals is in our mutual interest," Vice President Gore said.
"That is why we will continue to press for ratification of START II
and begin discussions next month toward START III."
"In addition, we both understand that there are ballistic missile
threats we both face that do not come from each other, but from other
nations. That is why it is important in parallel with achieving our
arms control objectives to discuss implications for the ABM Treaty
should the United States decide to deploy a National Missile Defense.
The Vice President and Prime Minister also discussed Russia's economic
reform agenda, non-proliferation, and commercial space cooperation,
and the Vice President expressed his deep concern over recent acts of
anti-Semitism in Russia.
The Vice President and Prime Minister also set priorities for the
future work of the Commission, including efforts to enhance Y2K
cooperation, to promote investment and economic growth in Russia, to
strengthen cooperation in law enforcement and the rule of law, and to
tighten Russian export controls to halt nuclear and missile
proliferation to rogue states.
"As we approach the new millenium, more and more of our challenges are
threats all nations face together, and no nation can solve on its
own," Vice President Gore said. "In this new era, strong U.S.-Russia
ties will be an essential component of American national security and
global stability. That why I am eager to keep building our partnership
with Russia to enhance the chance for peace and prosperity for both
our countries in the coming century."
(end text)