Title:  "US-Russian Missile Export Controls Agreement." White House Fact Sheet on the US-Russian Missile Export Controls Agreement. (930902)

Date:   19930902

Text:
*EUR415

09/02/93 *

U.S.-RUSSIAN MISSILE EXPORT CONTROLS AGREEMENT (Text: White House fact sheet) (270) (The following fact sheet titled "U.S.-Russian Missile Export Controls Agreement" was issued by the White House September 2.)

Vice President Gore and Prime Minister Chernomyrdin signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Missile-Related Exports today, at the conclusion of the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-Russian Joint Commission on Space and Energy. The agreement illustrates our mutual commitment to promoting nonproliferation and effective export controls. It provides a strong foundation upon which we will continue to build our partnership with Russia in space cooperation and other areas of mutual interest.

The U.S. and Russia reached an agreement on missile export controls on July 15. This agreement cleared the way for an expanded partnership on proliferation issues and in space cooperation. In the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Russia agreed to conduct its missile-related exports according to the criteria and standards of the multilateral Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). This formal commitment on the part of Russia met a major objective of the U.S. and the 22 other members of the MTCR. We also reached an understanding on the disposition of Russia's cryogenic rocket engine contract with India. We expect a final arrangement on this issue to be reached by the beginning of next year.

Russia's commitment to abide by the criteria and standards of the MTCR is a welcome and important step that shows its readiness to be a responsible partner in the sale of high-technology goods and services.

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