NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY WELCOMES RUSSIAN RATIFICATION OF START II
April 14, 2000 (11:45 a.m. EDT) No. 75
AXWORTHY WELCOMES RUSSIAN RATIFICATION OF START II
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy welcomed today's ratification of
START II by the Russian State Duma.
"Russia's ratification of START II is a long-awaited, positive step toward the
further reduction and ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons," said Minister
Axworthy. "Canada urges Russia and the U.S. to seize this opportunity to
proceed rapidly on further deep cuts in their nuclear arsenals through
accelerated negotiation of a START III agreement."
START II, formally entitled the "Treaty on Further Reduction and Limitation
of Offensive Strategic Arms," was signed by the United States and the
Russian Federation in January 1993, and ratified by the United States in
January 1996. The Treaty commits the two parties to reduce their strategic
nuclear arsenals to a maximum of 3500 deployed warheads each, down
from a Soviet-American combined total of over 20 000 during the Cold War.
"This news from Moscow sends an important signal to the NPT [Treaty on
the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons] Review Conference that opens
in New York on April 24," said Minister Axworthy. "The global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime has come under considerable strain
in recent years, and the ratification of START II will reinforce efforts by
Canada and others to strengthen this vital regime."
In addition to pressing for rapid progress on START III, such efforts include
promoting early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban
Treaty (CTBT) and negotiation of an effectively verifiable treaty banning the
production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and other nuclear
explosive devices.
States parties to the NPT meet every five years to review implementation of
the treaty and to look ahead to ensure that its provisions continue to be met.
Canada will participate in the NPT Review Conference to be held in New
York from April 24 to May 19. Minister Axworthy will address the conference
on April 25.
Key Canadian objectives for the Review Conference include securing
agreement to an updated five-year action program with new, concrete
objectives for disarmament and non-proliferation; seeking a more robust
review and assessment process; and promoting both universal adherence
to the Treaty and its full implementation.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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