29 March 2002
Bolton Sees Progress in Arms Reduction Talks with Russia
(Efforts focused on an offensive arms reduction agreement) (420)
Washington -- The State Department's top arms control official says
the United States and Russia are currently engaged in negotiations to
codify in a legally binding agreement reductions in strategically
deployed nuclear warheads in preparation for a May U.S.-Russia summit.
"In Geneva last week [March 21-22], we had two extensive days worth of
discussions," said Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and
International Security John Bolton at a March 29 Foreign Press Center
briefing. "We received briefings from the Russian side on their
nuclear doctrine and their further thoughts on missile defense
cooperation," he said.
Bolton said he held discussions with the Russian delegation led by
Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Mamedov on the text of the draft
agreement on offensive warhead reductions, and on the draft political
declaration President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin are
expected to issue during the summit in Moscow and St. Petersburg
beginning May 23.
"We made progress on a variety of issues. We still have some important
issues between the two sides that remain outstanding," Bolton said. "I
expect those particularly important issues will be the principal
source of discussion when Secretary [of State Colin] Powell and
Foreign Minister [Igor] Ivanov meet in a couple of weeks."
Powell is expected to meet with the Russian foreign minister in Madrid
April 10-11 to advance the summit agenda. He is also scheduled to stop
in Berlin for a series of meetings with German leaders on the
anti-terror war and European issues.
At a November summit at the Texas White House in Crawford, President
Bush agreed to reduce the U.S. operationally deployed strategic
nuclear arsenal from approximately 6,000 warheads to 1,700-to-2,200
over a 10-year phase-out period. Likewise, Putin pledged warhead
reductions to a range of 1,500-to-2,200.
In addition to nuclear arms reductions, the summit will focus on a new
strategic framework with Russia and non-proliferation and
counter-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, Bolton said.
Specifically, he said discussions have focused on proliferation with
Iran and other countries of concern. "We will continue to discuss
those issues with Russia," he said.
Overall, Bolton said there are issues that remain to be discussed,
"but we're making good progress."
Bolton travels to Moscow April 23-24 for further discussions.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
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