News

14 December 2001

Text: U.S. Diplomatic Notes on ABM Treaty

(Nov. 13: Sent to Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine) (440)

State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher released the text of the
diplomatic notes on the U.S. decision to withdraw from the 1972
Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty which were sent to Russia,
Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine on December 13:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
December 14, 2001

Statement by Richard Boucher, Spokesman

TEXT OF DIPLOMATIC NOTES SENT TO
RUSSIA, BELARUS, KAZAKHSTAN AND THE UKRAINE

On December 13, 2001

The following is the text of diplomatic notes sent to Russia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, and the Ukraine on December 13, 2001:

The Embassy of the United States of America has the honor to refer to
the Treaty between the United States of America and the Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic
Missile Systems signed at Moscow May 26, 1972.

Article XV, paragraph 2, gives each Party the right to withdraw from
the Treaty if it decides that extraordinary events related to the
subject matter of the treaty have jeopardized its supreme interests.

The United States recognizes that the Treaty was entered into with the
USSR, which ceased to exist in 1991. Since then, we have entered into
a new strategic relationship with Russia that is cooperative rather
than adversarial, and are building strong relationships with most
states of the former USSR.

Since the Treaty entered into force in 1972, a number of state and
non-state entities have acquired or are actively seeking to acquire
weapons of mass destruction. It is clear, and has recently been
demonstrated, that some of these entities are prepared to employ these
weapons against the United States. Moreover, a number of states are
developing ballistic missiles, including long-range ballistic
missiles, as a means of delivering weapons of mass destruction. These
events pose a direct threat to the territory and security of the
United States and jeopardize its supreme interests. As a result, the
United States has concluded that it must develop, test, and deploy
anti-ballistic missile systems for the defense of its national
territory, of its forces outside the United States, and of its friends
and allies.

Pursuant to Article XV, paragraph 2, the United States has decided
that extraordinary events related to the subject matter of the Treaty
have jeopardized its supreme interests. Therefore, in the exercise of
the right to withdraw from the Treaty provided in Article XV,
paragraph 2, the United States hereby gives notice of its withdrawal
from the Treaty. In accordance with the terms of the Treaty,
withdrawal will be effective six months from the date of this notice.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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