Current as of: May 21, 1996
Created February 14, 1995
START I: LISBON PROTOCOL AND THE NUCLEAR
NONPROLIFERATION TREATY
In signing the Lisbon Protocol in May 1992, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia,
and Ukraine became parties to the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty
(START) as successors to the former USSR. Belarus, Kazakhstan, aid
Ukraine also committed themselves in that Protocol to adhere to the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as non-nuclear-weapon states
"in the shortest possible time."
The chronology below identifies the events leading to START entry into
force on Dec. 5, 1994.
- The U.S. Senate gives its advice and consent to the ratification
of START on Oct. 1, 1992.
- The Belarusian parliament approves the ratification of START on
Feb. 4,1993. Belarus formally accedes to the NPT as a
non-nuclear-weapon state on July 22, 1993.
- The Kazakhstani parliament approves the ratification of START on
July 2,1992. Kazakhstan formally accedes to the NPT as a
non-nuclear-weapon state on Feb. 14, 1994.
- The previous Russian Supreme Soviet approves the ratification of
START on Nov. 4,1992, but with the condition that Russia will not
exchange instruments of ratification until the other three Treaty
Parties of the former USSR fulfill all of their Lisbon obligations,
including accession to the NPT.
- The Ukrainian parliament's original resolution of START ratification
on Nov. 18, 1993 contained unacceptable conditions that preclude
START's entry into force. However, on Feb. 3, 1994, the Rada rescinds
those conditions and authorizes the Government of Ukraine to exchange
instruments of ratification.
- On Dec. 5, 1994, Ukraine accedes to the NPT as a non-nuclear weapon
state, having received identical security assurances from the United
States, Russia and the United Kingdom.