14 April 2000

Text: Albright on Russian Lawmakers' Ratification of START II Treaty

(Duma vote "historic step" that will improve security for all)  (160)

U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright issued the following
statement April 14 after the Russian Duma voted to ratify START II,
the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty:

(begin text)
 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE 
Office of the Spokesman 
(Kiev, Ukraine)
April 14, 2000

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT

I congratulate the Russian people on the Duma's decisive ratification
of the START II Treaty. This is a big step forward. We look forward to
intensifying our discussions on next steps in our arms control
dialogue and other issues when Foreign Minister Ivanov comes to
Washington later this month.

This vote is indeed an historic step which will help improve security
for all of us.

(end text)

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Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)