IMPACTS: LOSS OF THE ABM TREATY MEANS ARMS REDUCTION AGREEMENTS WITH THE RUSSIANS ARE DESTROYED

RUSSIA WILL STOP REDUCING ITS NUCLEAR FORCES IF THE ABM TREATY IS VIOLATED

ERIC SCHMITT The New York Times January 30, 2000, SECTION: Section 4; Page 4; Testing a Missile And a Treaty //ACS-LN-2/4/2000

But the missile-defense issue is causing an uproar overseas, including in Russia, America's main nuclear rival, whose nuclear stockpile is declining. Moscow has threatened to stop reducing its 7,000-warhead arsenal if Washington breaks out of the A.B.M. Treaty.

ABROGATION OF THE ABM TREATY STOPS START-2 AND START-3 NUCLEAR REDUCTIONS AND COOPERATION ON NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION

Ivan Ivanov TASS, March 14, 2000, HEADLINE: Klebanov, Fuerth discuss bilateral cooperation prospects. // acs-ln

   The state of and prospects for Russian-U. S. cooperation in various fields were discussed in detail here on Tuesday during a meeting between Russian Vice-Premier Ilya Klebanov and Leon Fuerth, Assistant to the U. S. Vice-President for National Security Affairs.

Oxana Onishchenko, the Vice-Premier's press secretary, told journalists at the close of the meetings that the sides devoted special attention to disarmament matters, including non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and export control as well as matters aimed at finalising ratification of the START-2 Treaty and the commencement of negotiations on a START-3 one.

"The Russian side pointed out during the meeting that a new reduction of strategic offensive arms is possible only provided the Anti-Ballistic Missile Defence Treaty regime is preserved," Onishchenko said.

IF USA VIOLATES THE ABM TREATY, ALL ARMS CONTROL AGREEMENTS WITH THE RUSSIANS ARE DEAD

Andrew Koch, Jane's Defence Weekly, October 20, 1999 HEADLINE: NON-PROLIFERATION - on the way out? // ln-10-29-99-acs

In a recent statement, Colonel-General Vladimir Yakovlev, the head of Russia's Strategic Rocket Forces, threatened that Russia could withdraw from other arms control pacts and increase its nuclear stockpile if the USA abrogates the ABM treaty. "All agreements that have been signed or prepared will come under threat - namely START I, START II, and consultations for START III," Yakovlev warned.

ABM TREATY IS CRITICAL FOR START ONE & TWO

Elizabeth Young And Wayland Kennet The Independent (London) November 21, 1999, SECTION: COMMENT; Pg. 28 HEADLINE: YOU THOUGHT THE NUCLEAR ARMS RACE WAS OVER? THINK AGAIN; AMERICAN PLANS TO ESTABLISH A 'SON OF STAR WARS' ANTI-MISSILE SYSTEM THREATEN TO UNDERMINE THE GLOBAL BALANCE OF DETERRENCE AND WEAPONS CONTROL. //acs-ln-12-22-99

The ABM Treaty, saved by Thatcher, remains the essential cornerstone of the Russian/American Strategic Arms Reduction Treaties, Start I and Start II, and - as the Russians have pointed out - of the treaty banning all intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Europe.

USA VIOLATION OF ABM TREATY MEANS RUSSIA WILL THROW OUT ALL PAST ARMS NEGOTIATIONS AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS

MICHAEL R. GORDON, The New York Times, October 21, 1999, SECTION: Section A; Page 3; Column 1; HEADLINE: Russians Firmly Reject U.S. Plan to Reopen ABM Treaty // ln-10-29-99-acs

Stepping up the political pressure on Washington, the Russian military warned today that it would consider an American decision to withdraw from the accord as a move that would free Moscow from its arms-control obligations under several strategic-arms accords.

The Russians noted that they ratified Start I, which reduces long-range nuclear arms, on the assumption that the ABM treaty would remain intact. The Russians have yet to ratify Start II, which would make deeper cuts. But the Russians say it, too, would be jeopardized by a United States decision to withdraw from the ABM treaty.

ABANDONING THE ABM TREATY MEANS AN END TO NUCLEAR COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA

ANN ROOSEVELT BMD Monitor November 26, 1999 HEADLINE: Albright: Extreme Views On ABM Treaty Are Dangerous //acs-ln-12-22-99

[Secretary of State Madeleine Albright]

"On one side, there atributed to strategic nuclear stability, she said, and is based on the understanding that a competition in ABM systems would "create destabilizing uncertainties about intentions, and destroy our ability to reduce strategic offensive arms. Preserving this understanding is vital to us. It is also essential to Russia."

"If we were simply to abandon the ABM Treaty, we would generate fears in Moscow that we are also abandoning the goal of stability. We would squander an historic opportunity for negotiating further mutual reductions in our nuclear arsenals. And we would run the unnecessary risk of transforming Russia into once again our most powerfully armed adversary."

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE ABM TREATY MEANS THE END OF ARMS CONTROL AND COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA

ELIZABETH BECKER The New York Times, November 6, 1999, SECTION: Section A; Page 8; HEADLINE: U.S. Seeks Missile System Despite Treaty Risk // ln-acs-11-11-99

Several European countries have raised questions about the wisdom of threatening to withdraw from the treaty, which has been the basis for nearly every nonproliferation agreement.

Germany's Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer, said in Washington on Thursday that he believed the administration's willingness to consider abandoning the treaty was based on political calculations in the upcoming presidential elections. Otherwise, he said, it could mean a change in the United States policy of promoting disarmament.

"Everyone should think very carefully about the results of scrapping the treaty," he said. "Is it better to have Russia in the framework and under the control of international treaties or not? Yes or no?"

END OF ABM, TREATY MEANS END OF START II TREATY

The Associated Press December 22, 1999, HEADLINE: Talbott tries to persuade Russia to go along with changing ABM treaty // acs-ln-1/1/00

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who met with Talbott later Wednesday, said pushing the new Russian parliament for ratifying START II would be among his top priorities.

But Ivashov said Russia sees that pact and the ABM treaty as linked.

"The Russian Defense Ministry regards the ratification of START II useful, but with the indisputable reservation that it will come into force if all other understandings, including the ABM treaty, are observed and preserved," he said.

START III TREATY DEPENDS ON ABM TREATY REMAINING IN FORCE

Deutsche Presse-Agentur December 22, 1999, HEADLINE: No progress made at U.S.-Russian talks on changing ABM treaty // acs-ln-1/1/00

Russia's parliament last week postponed the ratification of the disarmament START II treaty over Washington's stance on the ABM document. Russia said a future START III treaty would also depend on adherence to the ABM treaty. dpa mb

BREAKING THE ABM TREATY MEANS THE END OF ALL ARMS CONTROL AGREEMENTS WITH RUSSIA

Barry Renfrew, The Ottawa Citizen, October 19, 1999, SECTION: News; A8 HEADLINE: U.S. could trigger new arms race, Russia warns: Missile proposal threatens nuclear agreements // ln-10-29-99-acs

Russian officials say breaking the ABM treaty could mean the end of all nuclear control agreements.

''We will fully withdraw from all inspection agreements and will not let anyone close to our arms. Russia will not know what is going on in the United States. Americans will not know what is going on in Russia, '' warned Mr. Yakovlev, the rocket force chief.

IF THE USA VIOLATES THE ABM TREATY, ALL ARMS DEALS WITH RUSSIA WILL GO ON THE SCRAP HEAP

Nikolai Novichkov JDW Correspondent Jane's Defence Weekly, October 27, 1999 HEADLINE: Russia's warning on treaty violations // ln-acs-11-11-99

If the US government insists on amendments to the 1972 Anti- Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty to allow the deployment of a National Missile Defense system, all the strategic weapons treaties between the USA and Russia will be put in jeopardy, according to the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Strategic Missile Force, Col Gen Vladimir Yakovlev. These would include the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START 1), the yet to be ratified START 2 and the proposed START 3. "In case of a violation by the US of the ABM Treaty, Russia will immediately and completely stop all inspections and let nobody examine its nuclear arsenals," said Gen Yakovlev. "Presently, we are considering a number of countermeasures, which will be immediately taken in case the ABM Treaty is violated. Russia can realise these measures without any significant increase in expenditure," said Gen Yakovlev. Nikolai Novichkov JDW Correspondent

REDUCTION IN NUCLEAR FORCES HAS BEEN LINKED BY RUSSIA TO RESPECT FOR THE ABM TREATY

ERIC SCHMITT  The New York Times March 17, 1999, SECTION: Section A; Page 1;  HEADLINE: Clinton Abandons His Threat to Veto Missile Defense Bill // lnu-acs

Russia has long opposed an American anti-missile system, and conditioned further reductions in its nuclear arsenal on Washington's compliance with the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty of 1972. Fielding an anti-missile system would require changes in that treaty, and Russia's leaders have expressed alarm over revived plans for such a system.