05 June 2001

Boucher Statement on Second Review Conference of CFE Treaty

State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher issued a statement June 5 on the completion of the Second Review Conference of the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE).

The conference reaffirmed the Treaty's central role in European security and the importance of the Adaptation Agreement signed at the Istanbul OSCE Summit in 1999, Boucher said. However, "Russia is not in compliance with certain aspects of the Treaty, in particular current or adapted Treaty limits in the so-called 'flank' area, which includes Chechnya," he said.

"The United States and other NATO members stated that ratification of the Adapted Treaty will be possible only in the context of full and verifiable compliance with agreed limits," Boucher added.

The Conference called for "timely fulfillment" of Russia's Treaty-related agreements to withdraw its forces and installations from Georgia and Moldova and "the Parties concerned reaffirmed their determination to achieve timely fulfillment of these commitments," Boucher stated.

Following is the text of Boucher's statement:

Washington, D.C.
June 5, 2001
Press Statement
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Review Conference

The Second Review Conference of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) met in Vienna from May 28 to June 1. Participating states reaffirmed the Treaty's central role in European security, and the important role the Adaptation Agreement, signed at the Istanbul OSCE Summit in 1999, will play in paving the way to greater security and stability in Europe, given changes that have taken place in Europe since the original Treaty was signed in 1990. The U.S., NATO allies and others underscored the need for Russia to fulfill President Putin's 1999 commitment to reduce in a verifiable manner, the levels of Russian equipment in the North Caucasus (Chechnya) to the levels specified in the Adapted Treaty. Presently Russia is not in compliance with certain aspects of the Treaty, in particular current or adapted Treaty limits in the so-called "flank" area, which includes Chechnya. The United States and other NATO members stated that ratification of the Adapted Treaty will be possible only in the context of full and verifiable compliance with agreed limits, consistent with the agreements contained in the Istanbul Final Act and Summit Declaration.

The Conference also reviewed implementation of Treaty-related agreements concluded at Istanbul between Russia and Georgia and between Russia and Moldova for withdrawals of Russian forces and installations from those countries, and underscored the need for progress on the ground to meet the agreed schedule. The Parties concerned reaffirmed their determination to achieve timely fulfillment of these commitments, which are contained in the Istanbul Final Act and the Summit Declaration.

The 30 States Parties at the Review Conference examined the operation of the Treaty to date, identified implementation concerns and areas for future work, and reaffirmed that the Treaty would remain fully in effect, except those provisions amended by the Agreement on Adaptation upon its entry into force. The United States welcomes the results of the Review Conference and will actively seek full compliance with the provisions of the Treaty and related documents.