Statement by the Forreign Minister of the Russian Federation

(Unofficial translation)

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On Legal Status of the Treaty Between Russia and the USA on Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms 1221-14-06-2002 In May 2000, the Russian Federation ratified the Treaty Between Russia and the USA on Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START-2 Treaty), and the ABM Treaty-related New York understandings of September 26, 1997. There was mutual understanding with the American Side that the USA would act similarly. This would have made it possible to realize the important agreements concerning the strategic offensive and defensive arms of the two countries.

But the USA refused to ratify the START-2 Treaty and the New York understandings. Moreover, on June 13, 2002, the United States withdrew from the ABM Treaty, with the result that this international legal act, which served for three decades as the cornerstone of strategic stability, has ceased to be in force. Taking into account the aforesaid actions of the USA and proceeding from the provisions of the Federal Law on Ratification of the START-2 Treaty, the Russian Federation notes the absence of any prerequisites for the entry of the START-2 Treaty into force, and does not consider itself bound any longer by the obligation under international law to refrain from any actions which could deprive this Treaty of its object and goal. June 14, 2002