22.10.99 UNDER THE AGREEMENT REACHED BY PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON OF THE USA IN COLOGNE IN JUNE 1999, ON OCTOBER 21-22, 1999, A REVIEW OF THE START-3 AND ABM TREATIES WAS CONTINUED AT THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF RUSSIA

Unofficial Translation

PRESS RELEASE

Under the agreement reached by President Boris Yeltsin of the Russian Federation and President Bill Clinton of the USA in Cologne in June 1999, on October 21-22, 1999, a review of the START-3 and ABM treaties was continued at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. The approaches of the sides to details of the basic aspects of the START-3 Treaty, on which the top leaders of the two countries agreed in Helsinki in 1997, were analyzed.

In these deliberations the Russian side has proceeded from the assumption that further strategic arms cuts are only possible on the condition that the ABM Treaty, which is essential to the entire disarmament process, remains inviolable and that if this Treaty is broken, all the START talks will become meaningless.

October 22, 1999