09 November 1998

TEXT: PRESS RELEASE ON SIGNING CEREMONY OF THE SVC NOV. 9

(Seven agreements signed in Special Verification Commission) (350)



Geneva -- Seven agreements were signed in the Special Verification
Commission (SVC) November 9 by representatives of the United States,
the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian
Federation and Ukraine.


The SVC is the forum for discussing implementation issues and agreeing
upon measures to enhance the viability and effectiveness of the Treaty
Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics on the Elimination of Their Intermediate-range and
Shorter-range Missiles (the INF Treaty), which entered into force in
June 1988.


According to a joint press release, the following officials signed for
the five implementation states: Ambassador Steven E. Steiner, for the
United States; Ambassador Stanislav Ogurtsov, for the Republic of
Belarus; Dr. Kairtay Zhanbatyrov for the Republic of Kazakhstan;
Ambassador Mikhail Strel'tsov, for the Russian Federation; and Mr.
Olexiy Rybak, for Ukraine.


Following is the text of the joint press release:



(Begin text)



JOINT PRESS RELEASE

SIGNING CEREMONY OF THE SPECIAL VERIFICATION COMMISSION



On November 9, 1998, in Geneva, representatives of the United States
of America, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the
Russian Federation and Ukraine completed and signed seven agreements
in the Special Verification Commission (SVC). The SVC is the forum for
discussing implementation issues and agreeing upon measures to enhance
the viability and effectiveness of the Treaty Between the United
States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the
Elimination of Their Intermediate-range and Shorter-range Missiles
(the INF Treaty), which entered into force in June 1988.


These signed agreements were the result of advance work through
diplomatic channels, as well as productive negotiations in the SVC,
and were largely related to facilitating the implementation of the
Treaty on a multilateral basis. The SVC also considered other issues
pertaining to implementation of INF Treaty rights and obligations.


The twenty-first session of the Commission, which began on October 19,
1998, will end on November 10, 1998.


(End text)

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