21 May 2001

U.S. Envoy Welcomes Conclusion of INF Treaty Inspections

U.S. Ambassador Stephen Steiner says the successful implementation of the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty -- which brought about the elimination of an entire class of missiles -- demonstrates that "former adversaries can work together in a spirit of cooperation to achieve a common purpose."

The U.S. Representative to the Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission and the Special Verification Commission (SVC) told a May 21 ceremony in Moscow commemorating the Treaty that the U.S. and Russian INF activity will end May 31.

Over the past 13 years, Steiner said, the United States conducted 540 treaty inspections, while the other implementing parties conducted 311 of their own. "Having conducted earlier the last INF inspections in Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan, the U.S. has just completed our last INF inspection in Russia, while our Treaty partners conducted the last inspections last week [May 14-18]," he said.

"Our success together in negotiating and implementing INF paved the way to deep strategic arms reductions," the ambassador said.

Following is the text of Steiner's remarks as prepared for delivery:

Remarks By Ambassador Steven E. Steiner
INF Commemoration
Moscow
May 21, 2001

A major step toward ending the Cold War and building a safer world was taken by Presidents Reagan and Gorbachev on December 8, 1987 when they signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. I had the honor of being present at the Signing Ceremony at the White House observing that historic event.

Years of negotiations and significant new thinking by our respective leaders produced a truly precedent-setting agreement. Our leaders had the foresight to recognize that the build-up of arms had reached unprecedented levels, and things needed to change.

This Treaty made history in several ways. First, it brought about the real destruction of weapons of mass destruction, completely eliminating an entire class of missiles, their launchers and related equipment. Second, it brought about a new standard of openness by creating a 13-year on-site verification regime of unparalleled intrusiveness, including several types of short-notice inspections and around-the-clock monitoring at missile assembly facilities.

The early years of implementation of the Treaty got off to a good start, despite the magnitude of this new undertaking. There was initially some apprehension concerning the detailed inspections that were called for in the Treaty. Never before had we had such access to each other's weapon delivery systems and to the sensitive facilities where those systems were based. Our inspectors nonetheless quickly got down to their complex tasks.

Much needed to be done to comply with the Treaty's elimination requirements. During the first three years, a total of 2,692 missiles, as well as their launchers and support equipment, had to be eliminated by the host country in the presence of INF inspection teams. Overall, the U.S. eliminated a total of 2,332 items covered by the Treaty, and the Former Soviet Union eliminated a total of 5,439 items.

During just the first 90 days of Treaty implementation, the U.S. conducted 115 inspections of 133 inspectable sites in the former Soviet Union and its basing countries, and the Soviet Union conducted inspections of 31 sites in the U.S. and its basing countries. Moreover, to conduct inspections by means of continuous monitoring at missile production or final assembly facilities, the Parties established a permanent presence at Magna, Utah and Votkinsk, Udmurt Republic, Russia. All of this activity represented not only unprecedented intrusiveness, but also monumental logistical challenges.

In May 1991, the last Pershing II was destroyed at Longhorn, Texas, and the last SS-20 at Kapustin Yar. My long-time colleague, Ambassador Mikhail Strel'tsov, and I observed those final eliminations, joining the experts from our respective military services. I was struck by both the professionalism and dedication of our military colleagues at what was clearly a bittersweet moment.

Over the last 13 years, the U.S. has conducted 540 INF inspections, and the other implementing Parties have conducted a total of 311. Having conducted earlier the last INF inspections in Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, the U.S. has just completed our last INF inspection in Russia, while our Treaty partners conducted the last inspection in the U.S. last week. The inspectors at Magna and Votkinsk will cease INF activity by May 31. This Treaty has demonstrated that former adversaries can work together in a spirit of cooperation to achieve a common purpose. Our success together in negotiating and implementing INF paved the way to deep strategic arms reductions. In particular, the START inspection regime is based in large part on the successful regime that was developed in INF. Our motto has been, in President Reagan's famous words -- "Trust, But Verify." (Doveryai, No Proveryai)

I want to express my gratitude to our Russian hosts for organizing this event, to my Russian colleague, Ambassador Strel'tsov, for 13 years of productive work together in the SVC, and to all of our colleagues, military and civilian, from the Russian Federation, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and the United States for having worked together to make this Treaty a resounding success. It has been an honor for me to have worked with you and to have been part of this historic process.