PROTOCOL TO THE TREATY BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND
THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS
ON THE REDUCTION AND
LIMITATION OF STRATEGIC OFFENSIVE ARMS
The Republic of Byelarus ( Spelling as appears in the original English Text
of Protocol. In other documents, the revised official spelling "Belarus"
is used.), the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and
the United States of America, hereinafter referred to as the Parties,
Reaffirming their support for the Treaty Between the United States of
America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Reduction and
Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms of July 31, 1991, hereinafter referred to
as the Treaty,
Recognizing the altered political situation resulting from the replacement
of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics with a number of independent
states,
Recalling the commitment of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent
States that the nuclear weapons of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
will be maintained under the safe, secure, and reliable control of a single
unified authority,
Desiring to facilitate implementation of the Treaty in this altered
situation,
Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE I
The Republic of Byelarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian
Federation, and Ukraine, as successor states of the former Union of Soviet
Socialist Republic in connection with the Treaty, shall assume the obligations
of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics under the Treaty.
ARTICLE II
The Republic of Byelarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian
Federation, and Ukraine shall make such arrangements among themselves as are
required to implement the Treaty's limits and restrictions; to allow functioning
of the verification provisions of the Treaty equally and consistently throughout
the territory of the Republic of Byelarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the
Russian Federation, and Ukraine; and to allocate costs
ARTICLE III
1. For purposes of Treaty implementation, the phrase, "Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics" shall be interpreted to mean the Republic of
Byelarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine
2. For purposes of Treaty implementation, the phrase, "national territory,"
when used in the Treaty to refer to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics,
shall be interpreted to mean the combined national territories of the Republic
of Byelarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine.
3. For inspections and continuous monitoring activities on the territory
of the Republic of Byelarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation,
or Ukraine, that state shall provide communications from the inspection site or
continuous monitoring site to the Embassy of the United States in the respective
capital.
4. For purposes of Treaty implementation, the embassy of the Inspecting
Party referred to in Section XVI of the Protocol on Inspections and Continuous
Monitoring Activities Relating to the Treaty between the United States of
America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Reduction and
Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms shall be construed to be the embassy of
the respective state in Washington or the embassy of the United States of
America in the respective capital.
5. The working languages for Treaty activities shall be English and
Russian.
ARTICLE IV
Representatives of the Republic of Byelarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan,
the Russian Federation, and Ukraine will participate in the Joint Compliance and
Inspection Commission on a basis to be worked out consistent with Article I of
this Protocol.
ARTICLE V
The Republic of Byelarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Ukraine shall
adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons of July 1, 1968
as non-nuclear weapon states Parties in the shortest possible time, and shall
begin immediately to take all necessary action to this end in accordance with
their constitutional practices.
ARTICLE VI
1. Each Party shall ratify the Treaty together with this Protocol in accordance
with its own constitutional procedures. The Republic of Byelarus, the Republic
of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine shall exchange instruments
of ratification with the United States of America. The Treaty shall enter into
force on the date of the final exchange of instruments of ratification.
2. This Protocol shall be an integral part of the Treaty and shall remain in
force throughout the duration of the Treaty. Done at Lisbon on May 23, 1992,
in five copies, each in the Byelarusian, English, Kazakh, Russian, and Ukrainian
languages, all texts being equally authentic.
FOR THE REPUBLIC OF BYELARUS: P. Kravchanka
FOR THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN: T. Zhukeyev
FOR THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION: A. Kozyrev
FOR UKRAINE: A. Zlenko
FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: James A. Baker, III
[ABA on Letters]
THE SUPREME SOVIET OF
THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS
May 20, 1992
Dear Mr. President:
In connection with the impending ratification by the Republic of Belarus of
the 1991 Treaty between the United States of America and the USSR on Reduction
and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, I have the honor to advise you that
the Republic of Belarus, in implementing this Treaty, will be able to assume
the following obligations.
In accordance with the letter and spirit of the Declaration on the State Sovereignty
of the Republic of Belarus, which has been given constitutional status, Belarus
will take all the measures to achieve the status of a non-nuclear state. I note
with satisfaction, Mr. President, that in its successful progress made in this
direction, Belarus as of now has already completely freed itself of the tactical
nuclear weapons that were located in its territory.
The Republic of Belarus guarantees the elimination of all nuclear
strategic offensive arms located in its territory in accordance with the
relevant agreements concluded by Belarus and during the seven-year period as
provided by the START Treaty, on condition that the Russian Federation will be
prepared to receive the nuclear strategic offensive arms removed from the
territory of Belarus during this period of time.
Naturally, Mr. President, the Republic of Belarus will conduct this activity
with due account of its national security interests, and when controversial
issues arise, the Republic of Belarus will consult with the other Parties to
the Treaty.
It is the view of the Republic of Belarus that the process of destruction of
nuclear weapons should be carried out under rigorous and effective international
control.
Accept, Mr. President, the assurance of my highest consideration.
His Excellency
George Bush
President of the United States of America
[Washington, D. C.]
THE PRESIDENT OF THE
REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN
May 19, 1992
To the President of the United States of America
Mr. George Bush
Dear Mr. President:
In connection with the ratification by Kazakhstan of the Treaty Between
the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the
Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms of 1991, I have the honor
to inform you that for the purposes of implementing the above mentioned Treaty,
Kazakhstan undertakes the following obligation. Kazakhstan guarantees the
carrying out of the elimination of all kinds of nuclear weapons, including
strategic offensive arms, located on its territory, over a period of seven years
in accordance with the START Treaty.
PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE
May 7, 1992
Kiev
Dear Mr. President:
In connection with the ratification by Ukraine of the 1991 Treaty between
the United States and the USSR on the Reduction of Strategic Offensive Arms,
I have the honor to advise you that Ukraine, in implementing this Treaty, shall
assume the following obligations.
In accordance with the Declaration on the State Sovereignty of Ukraine adopted
by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on July 16, 1990, and with the Statement of
the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the Non-Nuclear Status of Ukraine adopted on
October 24, 1991, Ukraine shall have a non-nuclear status, will abide by the
three non-nuclear principles in the future, and emphasizes its right to control
over the non-use of nuclear weapons deployed in its territory.
Ukraine shall guarantee the elimination of all nuclear weapons, including strategic
offensive arms, located in its territory in accordance with the relevant agreements
and during the seven-year period as provided by the START Treaty and within
the context of the Statement of the Non-Nuclear Status of Ukraine. Ukraine will
take into account its national security interests in conducting this activity.
In this connection, if any questions should arise Ukraine will consult with
the other Parties to the Treaty.
In addition, I should like to note that the process of elimination of nuclear
weapons in Ukraine should be carried out under reliable international control
which should guarantee the non-use of nuclear charge components for repeated
production of weapons and should prevent their export to other countries.
His Excellency
George Bush
President of the United States of America
Washington, D. C.
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