BUSH, YELTSIN SIGN START II; SENATE APPROVAL EXPECTED

In: Arms control today, Band 23, Heft 1, S. 19

Abstract

ON JANUARY 3, 1993, U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN SIGNED THE HISTORIC FOLLOW-UP STRATEGIC ARMS REDUCTION TREATY (START II). THE NEW ACCORD WILL SLASH CURRENT U.S. AND RUSSIAN STRATEGIC NUCLEAR FORCES BY ABOUT TWO-THIRDS AND THE WARHEAD LEVELS PROJECTED UNDER START I BY MORE THAN 50 PERCENT. ON JANUARY 15, THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION SUBMITTED THE TREATY TO THE SENATE, WHERE APPROVAL IS EXPECTED. HOWEVER, START II CANNOT ENTER INTO FORCE UNTIL START I DOES--A PROCESS THAT IS BEING HELD UP BY BELARUS, UKRAINE, AND KAZAKHSTAN.