Monday, May 27, 2002

Volume 38, Issue 21; ISSN: 0511-4187

Joint declaration by President George W. Bush and President Vladimir V. Putin

on the new strategic relationship between the United States of� America and the

Russian Federation

George W Bush; Vladimir V Putin

� May 24, 2002

� The United States of America and the Russian Federation,

� Recalling the accomplishments at the Ljubljana, Genoa, Shanghai,

and Washington/Crawford Summits and the new spirit of cooperation

already achieved;

� Building on the November 13, 2001 Joint Statement on a New

Relationship Between the United States and Russia, having embarked

upon the path of new relations for the twenty-first century, and

committed to developing a relationship based on friendship,

cooperation, common values, trust, openness, and predictability;

� Reaffirming our belief that new global challenges and threats

require a qualitatively new foundation for our relationship;

� Determined to work together, with other nations and with

international organizations, to respond to these new challenges and

threats, and thus contribute to a peaceful, prosperous, and free

world and to strengthening strategic security;

� Declare as follows:

� A Foundation for Cooperation

� We are achieving a new strategic relationship. The era in which the

United States and Russia saw each other as an enemy or strategic

threat has ended. We are partners and we will cooperate to advance

stability, secucity, and economic integration, and to jointly

counter global challenges and to help resolve regional conflicts.

� To advance these objectives the United States and Russia will

continue an intensive dialogue on pressing international and

regional problems, both on a bilateral basis and in international

fora, including in the UN Security Council, the G-8, and the OSCE.

Where we have differences, we will work to resolve them in a spirit

of mutual respect.

� We will respect the essential values of democracy, human rights,

free speech and free media, tolerance, the rule of law, and economic

opportunity.

� We recognize that the security, prosperity, and future hopes of our

peoples rest on a benign security environment, the advancement of

political and economic freedoms, and international cooperation.

� The further development of U.S.-Russian relations and the

strengthening of mutual understanding and trust will also rest on a

growing network of ties between our societies and peoples. We will

support growing economic interaction between the business

communities of our two countries and people-topeople and cultural

contacts and exchanges.

� Political Cooperation

� The United States and Russia are already acting as partners and

friends in meeting the new challenges of the 21st century; affirming

our Joint Statement of October 21, 2001, our countries are already

allied in the global struggle against international terrorism.

� The United States and Russia will continue to cooperate to support

the Afghan people's efforts to transform Afghanistan into a stable,

viable nation at peace with itself and its neighbors. Our

cooperation, bilaterally and through the United Nations, the

"Six-Plus-- Two" diplomatic process, and in other multilateral fora,

has proved important to our success so far in ridding Afghanistan of

the Taliban and al-Qaida.

� In Central Asia and the South Caucasus, we recognize our common

interest in promoting the stability, sovereignty, and territorial

integrity of all the nations of this region. The United States and

Russia reject the failed model of "Great Power" rivalry that can

only increase the potential for conflict in those regions. We will

support economic and political development and respect for human

rights while we broaden our humanitarian cooperation and cooperation

on counterterrorism and counternarcotics.

� The United States and Russia will cooperate to resolve regional

conflicts, including those in Abkhazia and Nagorno-Karabakh, and the

Transnistrian issue in Moldova. We strongly encourage the Presidents

of Azerbaijan and Armenia to exhibit flexibility and a constructive

approach to resolving the conflict concerning Nagorno-Karabakh. As

two of the Co-Chairmen of the OSCE's Minsk Group, the United States

and Russia stand ready to assist in these efforts.

� On November 13, 2001, we pledged to work together to develop a new

relationship between NATO and Russia that reflects the new strategic

reality in the Euro-Atlantic region. We stressed that the members of

NATO and Russia are increasingly allied against terrorism, regional

instability, and other contemporary threats. We therefore welcome

the inauguration at the May 28, 2002 NATO-Russia summit in Rome of a

new NATO-Russia Council, whose members, acting in their national

capacities and in a manner consistent with their respective

collective commitments and obligations, will identify common

approaches, take joint decisions, and bear equal responsibility,

individually and jointly, for their implementation. In this context,

they will observe in good faith their obligations under

international law, including the UN Charter, provisions and

principles contained in the Helsinki Final Act and the OSCE Charter

for European Security. In the framework of the NATO-Russia Council,

NATO member states and Russia will work as equal partners in areas

of common interest. They aim to stand together against common

threats and risks to their security.

� As co-sponsors of the Middle East peace process, the United States

and Russia will continue to exert joint and parallel efforts,

including in the framework of the "Quartet," to overcome the current

crisis in the Middle East, to restart negotiations, and to encourage

a negotiated settlement. In the Balkans, we will promote democracy,

ethnic tolerance, self-sustaining peace, and long-term stability,

based on respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of

the states in the region and United Nations Security Council

resolutions. The United States and Russia will continue their

constructive dialogue on Iraq and welcome the continuation of

special bilateral discussions that opened the way for UN Security

Council adoption of the Goods Review List.

� Recalling our Joint Statement of November 13, 2001 on

counternarcotics cooperation, we note that illegal drug trafficking

poses a threat to our peoples and to international security, and

represents a substantial source of financial support for

international terrorism. We are committed to intensifying

cooperation against this threat, which will bolster both the

security and health of the citizens of our countries.

� The United States and Russia remain committed to intensifying

cooperation in the fight against transnational organized crime. In

this regard, we welcome the entry into force of the Treaty on Mutual

Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters on January 31, 2002.

� Economic Cooperation

� The United States and Russia believe that successful national

development in the 21st century demands respect for the discipline

and practices of the free market. As we stated on November 13, 2001,

an open market economy, the freedom of economic choice, and an open

democratic society are the most effective means to provide for the

welfare of the citizens of our countries.

� The United States and Russia will endeavor to make use of the

potential of world trade to expand the economic ties between the two

countries, and to further integrate Russia into the world economy as

a leading participant, with full rights and responsibilities,

consistent with the rule of law, in the world economic system. In

this connection, the sides give high priority to Russia's accession

to the World Trade Organization on standard terms.

� Success in our bilateral economic and trade relations demands that

we move beyond the limitations of the past. We stress the importance

and desirability of graduating Russia from the emigration provisions

of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974, also known as the Jackson-Vanik

Amendment. We note that the Department of Commerce, based on its

ongoing thorough and deliberative inquiry, expects to make its final

decision no later than June 14, 2002 on whether Russia should be

treated as a market economy under the provisions of U.S. trade law.

The sides will take further practical steps to eliminate obstacles

and barriers, including as appropriate in the legislative area, to

strengthen economic cooperation.

� We have established a new dynamic in our economic relations and

between our business communities, aimed at advancing trade and

investment opportunities while resolving disputes, where they occur,

constructively and transparently.

� The United States and Russia acknowledge the great potential for

expanding bilateral trade and investment, which would bring

significant benefits to both of our economies. Welcoming the

recommendations of the Russian-American Business Dialogue, we are

committed to working with the private sectors of our countries to

realize the full potential of our economic interaction. We also

welcome the opportunity to intensify cooperation in energy

exploration and development, especially in oil and gas, including in

the Caspian region.

� Strengthening People-to-People Contacts

� The greatest strength of our societies is the creative energy of

our citizens. We welcome the dramatic expansion of contacts between

Americans and Russians in the past ten years in many areas,

including joint efforts to resolve common problems in education,

health, the sciences, and environment, as well as through tourism,

sister-city relationships, and other people-to-people contacts. We

pledge to continue supporting these efforts, which help broaden and

deepen good relations between our two countries.

� Battling the scourge of HIV/AIDS and other deadly diseases, ending

family violence, protecting the environment, and defending the

rights of women are areas where U.S. and Russian institutions, and

especially nongovernmental organizations, can successfully expand

their cooperation.

� Preventing the Spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction:

Non-Proliferation and International Terrorism

� The United States and Russia will intensify joint efforts to

confront the new global challenges of the twenty-first century,

including combating the closely linked threats of international

terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and

their means of delivery. We believe that international terrorism

represents a particular danger to international stability as shown

once more by the tragic events of September 11, 2001. It is

imperative that all nations of the world cooperate to combat this

threat decisively. Toward this end, the United States and Russia

reaffirm our commitment to work together bilaterally and

multilaterally.

� The United States and Russia recognize the profound importance of

preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction and missiles.

The specter that such weapons could fall into the hands of

terrorists and those who support them illustrates the priority all

nations must give to combating proliferation.

� To that end, we will work closely together, including through

cooperative programs, to ensure the security of weapons of mass

destruction and missile technologies, information, expertise, and

material. We will also continue cooperative threat reduction

programs and expand efforts to reduce weapons-- usable fissile

material. In that regard, we will establish joint experts groups to

investigate means of increasing the amount of weapons-- usable

fissile material to be eliminated, and to recommend collaborative

research and development efforts on advanced, proliferation--

resistant nuclear reactor and fuel cycle technologies. We also

intend to intensify our cooperation concerning destruction of

chemical weapons.

� The United States and Russia will also seek broad international

support for a strategy of proactive non-proliferation, including by

implementing and bolstering the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of

Nuclear Weapons and the conventions on the prohibition of chemical

and biological weapons. The United States and Russia call on all

countries to strengthen and strictly enforce export controls,

interdict illegal transfers, prosecute violators, and tighten border

controls to prevent and protect against proliferation of weapons of

mass destruction.

� Missile Defense, Further Strategic Offensive Reductions, New

Consultative Mechanism on Strategic Security

� The United States and Russia proceed from the Joint Statements by

the President of the United States of America and the President of

the Russian Federation on Strategic Issues of July 22, 2001 in Genoa

and on a New Relationship Between the United States and Russia of

November 13, 2001 in Washington.

� The United States and Russia are taking steps to reflect, in the

military field, the changed nature of the strategic relationship

between them. The United States and Russia acknowledge that today's

security environment is fundamentally different than during the Cold

War.

� In this connection, the United States and Russia have agreed to

implement a number of steps aimed at strengthening confidence and

increasing transparency in the area of missile defense, including

the exchange of information on missile defense programs and tests in

this area, reciprocal visits to observe missile defense tests, and

observation aimed at familiarization with missile defense systems.

They also intend to take the steps necessary to bring a joint center

for the exchange of data from early warning systems into operation.

� The United States and Russia have also agreed to study possible

areas for missile defense cooperation, including the expansion of

joint exercises related to missile defense, and the exploration of

potential programs for the joint research and development of missile

defense technologies, bearing in mind the importance of the mutual

protection of classified information and the safeguarding of

intellectual property rights.

� The United States and Russia will, within the framework of the

NATO-Russia Council, explore opportunities for intensified practical

cooperation on missile defense for Europe.

� The United States and Russia declare their intention to carry out

strategic offensive reductions to the lowest possible levels

consistent with their national security requirements and alliance

obligations, and reflecting the new nature of their strategic

relations.

� A major step in this direction is the conclusion of the Treaty

Between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on

Strategic Offensive Reductions.

� In this connection, both sides proceed on the basis that the Treaty

Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet

Socialist Republics on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic

Offensive Arms of July 31, 1991, remains in force in accordance with

its terms and that its provisions will provide the foundation for

providing confidence, transparency, and predictability in further

strategic offensive reductions, along with other supplementary

measures, including transparency measures, to be agreed.

� The United States and Russia agree that a new strategic

relationship between the two countries, based on the principles of

mutual security, trust, openness, cooperation, and predictability

requires substantive consultation across a broad range of

international security issues. To that end we have decided to:

� * establish a Consultative Group for Strategic Security to be

chaired by Foreign Ministers and Defense Ministers with the

participation of other senior officials. This group will be the

principal mechanism throughwhich the sides strengthen mutual

confidence, expand transparency, share information and plans, and

discuss strategic issues of mutual interest; and

� * seek ways to expand and regularize contacts between our two

countries' Defense Ministries and Foreign Ministries, and our

intelligence agencies.

� The President of the United States of America:

� George W. Bush

� The President of the Russian Federation:

� Vladimir V. Putin

� Moscow

� May 24, 2002.