29 March 2002

Bolton Sees Progress in Arms Reduction Talks with Russia

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.