News

04.12.99

MOSCOW WELCOMES THE ADOPTION BY THE PLENARY MEETING OF THE 54TH SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON DECEMBER 1, 1999, OF THE RESOLUTION ON THE PRESERVATION OF AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE ABM TREATY, CO-SPONSORED BY RUSSIA, CHINA AND BELARUS AND EARLIER ENDORSED BY THE FIRST COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Unofficial Translation

STATEMENT BY THE OFFICIAL SPOKESMAN
OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF RUSSIA

Moscow welcomes the adoption by the plenary meeting of the 54th Session of the UN General Assembly on December 1, 1999, of the resolution on the preservation of and compliance with the ABM Treaty, co-sponsored by Russia, China and Belarus and earlier endorsed by the First Committee of the General Assembly.

As compared with the vote taken in the First Committee, the results of the vote at the plenary meeting of the General Assembly testify to an even greater support for the resolution.

Russia expresses its gratitude to all the states which supported the resolution.

The results of the vote are a reflection of the increased concern of the world community over the fate of the ABM Treaty, which is the basis of world strategic stability and of the entire system of international accords on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, in connection with the US plans to develop a national ABM system, a system that is prohibited by the Treaty. The so-called adaptation of the ABM Treaty to fit the US unilateral decision to develop a national ABM system would amount to the abandonment of the core limitation constituting the essence of the Treaty, namely, the ban on the deployment of any ABM system on the territory of a party's country or on the development of the foundations of such a system, and would lead to the actual dismantling of the Treaty. As a party to the Treaty, Russia will have no part of such actions.

The adoption of the above resolution of the UN General Assembly also testifies to the world community's growing understanding of the fact that although only a small number of states are parties to the ABM Treaty, in reality it has a bearing on the security of all the countries of the world. That is why the threat looming over the Treaty cannot be overlooked by international forums, primarily by the United Nations.

History shows that any attempt to strengthen one's own security at the expense of others is doomed to failure. The dismantling of the ABM Treaty and, consequently, of all the other nuclear disarmament treaties based on it would undoubtedly force many nations to rethink the priorities and methods of ensuring their security. In this sense the resolution of the UN General Assembly gives a distinctive and timely signal to those who are driving for the disruption of the ABM Treaty. Ultimately, such actions would lead to the subversion of strategic stability and international security, including the security of the US itself.

Russia is opposed to the unraveling of another round of the arms race and favors the strengthening and further development of the arms control process. We are prepared to continue the efforts, pursued jointly with the US, for reductions in the strategic offensive weapons on the condition of the preservation of and strict compliance with the ABM Treaty. We view the adoption of the above resolution by the UN General Assembly as the world community's firm support of this position of ours.
December 4, 1999