News

22 February 2002, Volume 3, Number 7
RFE/RL Security and Terrorism Watch

U.S., RUSSIA CONTINUE START-3 TALKS.

Russian Security Council Deputy Secretary Oleg Chernov and Deputy Foreign Minister Georgii Mamedov met in Moscow on 18 and 19 February with visiting U.S. Undersecretary of State John Bolton to discuss radical reductions in strategic weapons, regional and international stability, and preparations for the Russian-U.S. summit scheduled for late May 2002, RIA-Novosti reported on 19 February. Moscow is trying to convince Washington to sign a treaty on "real and verifiable" reductions in both countries' strategic arsenals in the next 10 years to the level of 2,200-1,700 warheads, but understands that because of different approaches it may not be possible to sign such a treaty during the forthcoming summit.

Sources