Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START) Treaty

UNILATERAL STATEMENT BY THE UNITED STATES ON THE OCCASION OF THE ENTRY INTO FORCE OF JCIC AGREEMENT NUMBER 44 AND JCIC JOINT STATEMENT NUMBER 34, DECEMBER 11, 2000 

The United States interprets JCIC Agreement Number 44 on "Phased Elimination of ICBMs for Mobile Launchers of ICBMs," as providing the Treaty basis for the Parties to agree on phased elimination procedures for the mobile ICBMs of a Party if that Party requests to use phased elimination for its mobile ICBMs. The United States has signed this Agreement without prejudice to its position that the provisions of the Treaty’s Conversion or Elimination Protocol apply only to the first stage of the Peacekeeper ICBM, which is considered to be an ICBM pursuant to subparagraph 3(a) of Article III of the Treaty.

At this time, Ukraine has requested to use phased elimination for its SS-24 ICBMs and the Parties have agreed on such procedures for these ICBMs. For its part, the United States has no intention of using, nor could it be obligated to use, phased elimination for its Peacekeeper ICBMs.

UNILATERAL STATEMENT BY THE RUSSIAN SIDE IN CONNECTION WITH THE STATEMENT BY STEVEN STEINER, U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TO THE JCIC, AT THE SIGNING OF THE JCIC DOCUMENTS ON DECEMBER 11, 2000 

In connection with the unilateral statement by Steven Steiner, U.S. Representative to the JCIC, regarding the U.S. position with respect to the elimination of Peacekeeper ICBMs, made at today’s signing of the JCIC Agreement on "Phased Elimination of ICBMs for Mobile Launchers of ICBMs" and the JCIC Joint Statement on "Phased Elimination of SS-24 ICBMs Located in Ukraine," I have been instructed to confirm the Russian Federation’s position of principle concerning elimination of U.S. Peacekeeper ICBMs, which was set forth in detail in the Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission in connection with the START Treaty.

Specifically, according to this position of the Russian Federation, mobile ICBMs must be eliminated as provided for in Section I of the Protocol on Conversion or Elimination of the Items subject to the START Treaty, that is, completely and with verification, regardless of the classification of these missiles.

UNILATERAL STATEMENT BY THE UKRAINIAN SIDE IN CONNECTION WITH THE SIGNING OF JCIC DOCUMENTS, DECEMBER 11, 2000 

Today, the JCIC has finalized the documents that constitute the legal basis for the implementation of phased elimination of SS-24 ICBMs in Ukraine.

The signature of the JCIC Agreement on “Phased Elimination of ICBMs for Mobile Launchers of ICBMs,” and the initialing of the JCIC Joint Statement “On Phased Elimination of SS-24 ICBMs Located in Ukraine” mark the culmination of a lengthy and intensive negotiating process during which all the Parties were extremely constructive and flexible. In this connection, I have been instructed to convey the Ukrainian side’s gratitude to the Parties for their understanding of the important issues before them, and for their readiness to assist in seeking solutions.

UNILATERAL STATEMENT BY THE UNITED STATES ON THE OCCASION OF THE ENTRY INTO FORCE OF JCIC AGREEMENT NUMBER 44 AND JCIC JOINT STATEMENT NUMBER 34, DECEMBER 11, 2000 

The United States emphasizes that agreements and procedures for Phased Elimination will deviate from the requirements of Section I of the Conversion or Elimination Protocol only in terms of timing or sequencing, and that all substantive rights and obligations in the START Treaty, including all elimination, inspection and attribution requirements, will continue to apply.