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The White House
Created April 4, 1993

SAFE, SECURE DISMANTLEMENT (SSD) INITIATIVES
WITH BELARUS, KAZAKHSTAN AND UKRAINE

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 $l4.5 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 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 material control and accountability and physical protection system for civil nuclear material. In addition, we are establishing a Science and Technology Center in Kiev.

Ukraine.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 umbrella agreement is in place. The U.S. SSD delegation is planning to travel to Kiev to address several specific projects, including 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.