ACCESSION NUMBER:276097

FILE ID:SFF716

DATE:04/04/93

TITLE:SSD INITIATIVES WITH BELARUS, KAZAKHSTAN, UKRAINE (04/04/93)

TEXT:*93040416.SFF

SSD INITIATIVES WITH BELARUS, KAZAKHSTAN, UKRAINE



(Text:  Fact Sheet, Vancouver Summit)  (470)

(The White House released the following fact sheet entitled "Safe, Secure

Dismantlement (SSD) Initiatives with Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine" at

the U.S.-Russian Summit in Vancouver April 4.)



Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine (along with Russia) have been certified

by the Secretary of State as meeting the eligibility requirements for

assistance under the Nunn-Lugar legislation.  We have, to date, notified

the Congress of approximately $40 million in proposed Nunn-Lugar

obligations to the four states.



-- Belarus.  We have signed three implementing agreements with Belarus

providing emergency response equipment to enhance capabilities to respond

to the consequences of a nuclear accident, a continuous communications

(CCL) link to allow the transmission of data and notifications under the

INF and START agreements, and assistance and training to help establish an

effective export control system.  These agreements total $8.3 million in

assistance.



In the wake of Belarus' ratification of the START and NPT Treaties, we have

recently proposed to Chairman Shushkevich the outlines of an additional

assistance package which could include up to $65 million in Nunn-Lugar

funds for things such as defense conversion and missile site clean-up.



-- Kazakhstan.  The Congress has been notified of $14.5 million in proposed

Nunn-Lugar obligations for Kazakhstan.  These funds would provide a

government-to-government communications link, emergency response equipment,

assistance and training in establishing an export control system as well as

a system for the material control and accountability and physical

protection of civil nuclear material.



These agreements were discussed with a Kazakhstani delegation in Washington

last month.  Our objective is to sign these agreements during a return

visit to Almaty in late April, after they have been reviewed by the

Kazakhstani government.  We also hope to discuss Nunn-Lugar assistance in

other areas, including the dismantlement of strategic nuclear delivery

vehicles.



-- Ukraine.  We have agreed to provide Ukraine at least $175 million in

Nunn-Lugar assistance, assuming they ratify START and adhere to the NPT.

The Congress has been notified of $27 million in proposed Nunn-Lugar

obligations for Ukraine.  Proposed agreements would provide a

government-to-government communications link, emergency response equipment,

assistance and training in establishing an export control regime, and a

1aterial control and accountability and physical protection system for

civil nuclear material.  In addition, we are establishing a Science and

Technology Center in Kiev.



Ukraine has not yet signed an umbrella agreement providing the legal

framework under which Nunn-Lugar assistance can be provided.  No

implementing agreements can be signed until this Kiev assistance in

strategic nuclear delivery vehicle dismantlement, which would take up the

bulk of the $175 million we have pledged.  This agreement would not be

signed until Ukraine has ratified START and the NPT.



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