What was new on START Web site?
July, 2001
July 29, 2001
It is still unclear after a recent Moscow visit of U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, how the sides are going to achieve a compromise on the ABM Treaty. Official comments reveal no shift in previous attitudes:
- A Battle for Strategic Stability, - in Russian, (by Alexei Lyaschenko, Krasnaya Zvezda, July 28, 2001)
- Interpreters. Russia Dragged the US into Casuistic Disputes, - in Russian, (by Svetlana Babayeva, Izvestia, July 28, 2001)
- Kim Chong-il Will Solve the Future of the ABM Treaty, - in Russian, (by Alexandr Kornilov, Gazeta.Ru, July 28, 2001)
- Answers of Official Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Alexander Yakovenko in a Live Broadcast on RTR Channel Regarding the ABM Treaty, (July 27, 2001)
- What One Should Expect from the Visit of Condoleezza Rice?, - in Russian, (by Ol'ga Tropkina and Ivan Rodin, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, July 27, 2001)
- Russia Has Tempered Justice with Mercy, - in Russian, (by Vadim Solov'yov, Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, July 27, 2001)
- Russia and the US Will Put an End to the Legacy of the Past, (by Afanasi Sborov,Kommersant, July 27, 2001)
- U.S. Offers Russia a Blueprint for Talks on Nuclear Weapons, (by Michael Wines, The New York Times, July 27, 2001)
- Rice Expects Russian Assent On Shield, (by Sharon LaFraniere, The Washington Post, Friday, July 27, 2001; Page A27)
- Rice reaffirms U.S. position, (by Colin McMahon, The Chicago Tribune, July 27, 2001)
- Arms deal rattles cold warriors, (by Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, July 27, 2001)
- Russia is told Bush will press for 'shield', (by Alice Lagnado and Giles Whittell, The Times, July 27, 2001)
- Rushailo, Rice Refuse To Budge On NMD, (by Judith Ingram, The Moscow Times, Friday, Jul. 27, 2001. Page 3)
- Russia - America: Talks on an Old Issue, - in Russian, (Utro.Ru, July 26, 2001)
- Rice Optimistic About Reaching Accord With Russia on Defense, (by Robyn Dixon, Los Angeles Times, July 26, 2001)
According to U.S. experts, "...the nuclear posture review has a three phase design and time frame. The first phase includes retirement of 50 Peacekeeper "MX" missiles with 500 warheads, placement of single MX warheads on Minuteman III missiles, and reducing the Trident submarine fleet from 18 to 14 boats... The second phase would be to unilaterally reduce further to some 2,000 warheads. This would be done through "downloading" the number of warheads on submarines, and reducing the day-to-day nuclear committed force, including potentially reducing the level of alert. A new capability would be developed in the form of new "tailored" nuclear weapons to attack hardened and deeply buried targets... In the third phase, seen as possible by the end of the decade, forces would decline to 1,000-1,500 warheads, with still lower numbers of missile warheads, and bombers transformed into 'dual capable' airplanes like fighters, released from most of the day-to-day requirement to prepare for nuclear war...": The Emerging Nuclear Posture, (by William M. Arkin, The Washington Post, Monday, July 30, 2001; 12:00 AM)
"...The top defense priority for Russia is the Strategic Rocket Forces. They are currently not thus much dying as killed. The rate of deployment of palliative "Topol M"s is depressing... However, we are emphatically suggested the idea about determining importance of the strategic sea based forces... In spite of numerous problems with the sea based component, it is this leg of a nuclear triad one attempt to make an emphasis on in future. Though undersea nuclear fleets are becoming unjustifiably more expensive and unjustifiably dangerous element of current and future life of the world community..." (A Nuclear Undersea Surplus, - in Russian, by Sergei Brezkun, Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, July 27, 2001)
A U.S. anti-missile weapon was able to destroy a test warhead in space on July 14 partly because a beacon on the target signaled its location during much of the flight:
- U.S. Anti-Missile Was Guided by a Target, - in Russian, (Lenta.Ru, July 28, 2001)
- U.S. Anti-Missile Test Aided by Beacon - Officials, (by Charles Aldinger, Reuters, July 27, 2001)
A leading critic of the military's missile defense testing program Professor Theodore Postol has accused the Pentagon of trying to silence him and intimidate his employer, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, by investigating him for disseminating classified documents: M.I.T. Physicist Says Pentagon Is Trying to Silence Him, (by James Dao, The New York Times, July 27, 2001). See also previous publications on a conflict between Prof. Postol and Pentagon.
Carnegie Moscow Center published a new report of Andrei Zobov Russian Security, Iran, and American Sanctions, - in Russian (Supplement to Nuclear Proliferation Journal. Issue #1, 2001). The author focuses on the issues of Russia's assistance to Iran's nuclear missile programs and the transfer of "sensitive" technologies, as well as the perspectives of development of Russian-American relations in the light of the Iranian factor and ways of surmounting disaccord in the question of nuclear missile potential of Iran.
At the Russian START Forum: on Pavel Podvig's paper in Izvestia and other issues.
July 26, 2001
President Bush and President Vladimir V. Putin agreed to link discussions of American plans to deploy a missile defense system with the prospect of large cuts in both nuclear arsenals:
- July 22 Press Conference by President Bush and President Putin, July 23, 2001
- Bush, Putin Joint Statement on Upcoming Talks on Strategic Issues, 22 July 2001
- Transcript of the Interview by Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov to Vremya Program (ORT Channel) on Strategic Stability, July 23, 2001
In a comment published today in Izvestiya, Pavel Podvig, an expert with our Center underscored that: "...continuing appeals to save the ABM Treaty at 'any price' give rise to concern. The price may become too high. There is only a hope that consultations agreed by Russian and U.S. Presidents will not end up with repetition of old postures ...": Illusions of the Treaty, - in Russian, (by Pavel Podvig, Izvestiya, July 26, 2001). See also:
- Bilateral Meeting and Three Warhead Missiles, - in Russian, (by Viktor Litovkin, Obschaya Gazeta, July 26, 2001)
- Taken out of Context, - in Russian, (by Andrey Denisov, Vremya Novostei, July 26, 2001)
- Europe's Cold Warriors, (Wall Street Journal, July 25, 2001)
- Igor Ivanov: Radical Cuts of Nuclear Weapons Are Only Possible if ABM Treaty Is Saved, - in Russian, (by Dmitri Gornostayev, Strana.Ru, July 25, 2001)
- Russian, U.S. Arms Talks Face Hurdles Bush, Putin Must Overcome Hard-Line Critics at Home , (by Peter Baker, The Washington Post, Tuesday, July 24, 2001; Page A12)
- Putin's Choice: A Compromise with the U.S. instead of Militarization Economics, - in Russian, (by Vadim Solovyov, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, July 24, 2001)
- A Fantastic Thriller in Genoa, - in Russian, (by Marina Volkova and Dmitri Gornostayev, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, July 24, 2001)
- A big arms deal, (Boston Globe, July 25, 2001)
- Putin and Bush play down talk of missile defence accord, (by Rober Cottrell, Financial Times, July 24, 2001)
- A step toward missile defense, but what kind?, (USA Today, July 24, 2001)
- Let's just move ahead, (by R. James Woolsey, USA Today, July 24, 2001)
- Antimissile Diplomacy, (by David E. Sanger, The New York Times, July 24, 2001)
- Russia Agrees To Change the ABM Treaty, - in Russian, (by Pavel Podvig, SMI.Ru, July 23, 2001)
- Dr. No, (Wall Street Journal, July 24, 2001)
- Anathema to Treaties, (by Anthony Lewis, The New York Times, July 23, 2001)
- Why Bush, Putin struck a deal, (by Robert P. Hey, The Christian Science Monitor, July 23, 2001)
- Bush, Putin Agree To Arms Dialogue, (by Mike Allen, The Washington Post, Monday, July 23, 2001; Page A01)
- Editorial comment: US and Russia, (Financial Times, July 23, 2001)
- US and Russia move a step closer on defence, (by Stephen Fidler, Financial Times, July 23, 2001)
- Putin Accepted American Rules of the Game, - in Russian, (by Vasili Sergeyev, Gazeta.Ru, July 23, 2001)
- Bush and Putin Tie Antimissile Talks to Big Arms Cuts, (by David E. Sanger, The New York Times, July 23, 2001)
- Reading Putin's Mind, (by William Safire, The New York Times, July 23, 2001)
- U.S., Russia Agree to Widen Missile Talks, (by James Gerstenzang, Los Angeles Times, July 23, 2001)
- Washington Purposefully Moves Toward NMD Deployment, (by Vadim Solovyov, Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, July 20, 2001)
- Pushing Agenda for ABM's, Bush Prepares to Meet Putin, (by Michael R. Gordon, The New York Times, July 19, 2001)
- Few Missile Defense Details Emerge After Powell Talks, (by Jane Perlez and Michael Wines, The New York Times, July 19, 2001)
- ABM Issue is a Primary One Both in Genoa and Rome, - in Russian, (by Dmitri Gornostayev, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, July 19, 2001)
U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice arrived in Moscow on Wednesday to put arms control talks with Russia on a fast track, saying the two sides had broken the deadlock on missile defense. The United States does not intend to amend the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty to allow for the development of a missile defense system but will instead seek Russia's agreement for both countries to withdraw from the accord, administration officials said Tuesday.
- Condoleezza Rice Offered to Move to New Framework Without the ABM Treaty, - in Russian, (Lenta.Ru, July 25, 2001)
- Condoleezza Rice: It Is Time To Leave the Era of ABM Treaty Behind, - in Russian, (by Filipp Sterkin, Strana.Ru, July 25, 2001)
- U.S. Security Adviser Sees Progress on Missile Defense, (by Jon Boyle, Reuters, Wednesday, July 25 8:58 AM ET)
- U.S. Will Not Seek To Alter ABM Treaty, (by Alan Sipress, The Washington Post, Wednesday, July 25, 2001; Page A13)
- An Agreement Without Treaties, - in Russian, (by Alexandr Shumilin, Izvestiya, July 25, 2001)
- A Hot Peace Is Better Than Cold War, - in Russian, (by Ilya Bulavinov, Kommersant, July 25, 2001)
- Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov answers a question from Russian journalists on the results of his meeting with the US Secretary of State Colin Powell within the framework of ASEAN events (Hanoi, July 25, 2001)
- Condoleezza Rice Is Coming, - in Russian, (by Yelena Shesternina, Izvestiya, July 24, 2001)
Russia's defense minister indicated the country was willing to consider changes to the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, giving encouragement to Bush administration officials who told Congress they have made progress in the diplomatic sales job for a missile defense shield.
- Defense Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Ivanov: The Primary Criterion Is Security of Russia, - in Russian, (by Mikhail Falaleyev, Krasnaya Zvezda, July 26, 2001)
- Russian Defense Chief Reconsiders ABM, (by David R. Sands, The Washington Times, July 25, 2001)
Congressional Democrats are threatening to block the Pentagon's plans to begin work next month on a new missile defense test site at Fort Greely, Alaska, contending that Congress never appropriated financing for such work: Democrats Threaten Project for Missile Test, (by James Dao, The New York Times, July 26, 2001). See also:
- Key Democrats back ending ABM, (by Joseph Curl, The Washington Times, July 26, 2001)
- Democrats Try To Work Up A Shield Plan Of Their Own, (by James Dao, The New York Times, July 24, 2001)
- A Troublesome Surprise, - in Russian, (by Yevgeni Bai, Izvestiya, July 24, 2001)
A prototype missile defense radar had a malfunction after a recent claimed to be successful interception test and was unable to confirm that a mock warhead had been destroyed
- Missile Interception Test Was Hit-and-Miss, Pentagon Reports, (by James Dao, The New York Times, July 19, 2001)
- Crucial Radar Failed Missile Defense Test, (by Peter Pae, Los Angeles Times, July 18, 2001)
- Missile Defense Test, (a panel with Theodore Postol, William Graham and Philip Coyle, July 16, 2001)
The Bush administration plans to test a space-based laser interceptor as early as 2005 as part of its ambitious new missile defense agenda:
- Versions: On the Track To Create a Missile Shield, (by Sergei Sokut, Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, July 20, 2001)
- Pentagon Revisits a Space Defense Plan, (by James Glanz, The New York Times, July 18, 2001)
- U.S. Plans to Test Space-Based Laser To Intercept Missiles, (by Vernon Loeb, The Washington Post, Wednesday, July 18, 2001; Page A03)
Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports about joint Ukrainian-Russian plans of commercial use of SS-18 ICBM: "Satan" Turns Into "Dnepr", - in Russian, (by Andrey Vaganov, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, July 25, 2001)
In the recent issue of Arms Control Today (July - August, 2001)
- Mission Impossible, (by Spurgeon M. Keeny, Jr.),
- A Response to Thomas Neff’s ‘Decision Time for the HEU Deal’, (Philip Sewell)
- Pentagon Seeks Missile Defense Budget Increase, Reorganization, (by Wade Boese)
- DOD Mulls Missile Defense Test Site; Plan Could Violate ABM Treaty, (by Wade Boese)
- Bush Team Reaffirms Missile Defense Plans; Dems Leery, (by Wade Boese)
- Congress Releases Pentagon Report Criticizing Clinton NMD, (by Wade Boese)
- Bush Meets Opposition To Missile Defense While in Europe, (by Wade Boese)
- Pentagon Prepares Modest Cutbacks in Nuclear Arsenal, (by Philipp C. Bleek)
- Russian Duma Passes Bill Allowing Import of Spent Fuel, (by Philipp C. Bleek)
At the Russian START Forum: U.S. motives to reject CTBT and other issues.
July 17, 2001
Executive Summary of the recent our Center's report U.S.-Russian Relations in Nuclear Arms Reductions: Current State and Prospects, (Anatoli Diakov, ed.) is now available in English. See also a transcript of the press conference (in Russian) held on July 3rd, 2001 at the National Press Development Institute.The Pentagon reported that the fourth attempt to shoot down an intercontinental missile succeeded on July 14. A projectile launched from a prototype missile defense system on the Marshall Islands successfully intercepted a dummy warhead, which had been launched 29 minutes earlier from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Pentagon plans for 4 to 6 more flight tests of the NMD elements before the end of the year. Eugene Miasnikov, the Editor of the START Web site said to Izvestia correspondent, that "...the test was not a violation of the ABM Treaty. One may speak about a violation, for instance, if the US start to deploy interceptors at Alaska... As to testing an antimissile airborne laser, this is not going to happen soon... Russia should think over a rational strategy, strictly define what it wants... Thus far, there is no common language in the (US-Russian) dialog..." (A Different Geometry, - in Russian, by Svetlana Babayeva and Yekaterina Grigor'yeva, Izvestiya, July 17, 2001). See also:
- A Missile Shield Road Map, (The New York Times, July 17, 2001)
- Trump Cards in Bush's Hands Again, - in Russian (by Mikhail Khodaryonok and Yelena Shesternina, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, July 17, 2001)
- Step by Step Toward the NMD?, - in Russian, (Krasnaya Zvezda, July 17, 2001)
- NMD March, - in Russian (by Artur Blinov, Vremya MN, July 17, 2001)
- Amid Applause, Caution Urged on Missile Defense, (by James Dao, The New York Times, July 16, 2001)
- Russia Denounces U.S. Missile Defense Test, (by Helen Dewar, The Washington Post, Monday, July 16, 2001; Page A10)
- US relief at missile test success, (by Martin Kettle, The Guardian, July 16, 2001), see also a comment by Alexander Pikayev, a member of the scientific council of the Moscow Carnegie Center (in Russian)
- U.S. Runs Test of ABM Defense, (by Jim Wolf, The Moscow Times, Monday, Jul. 16, 2001. Page 10)
- Flight Testing of the US NMD System Succeeded, - in Russian, (Strana.Ru, July 15, 2001)
- Pentagon Officials Report Hit in Missile Defense Test, (by James Dao, The New York Times, July 15, 2001)
- Interceptor Scores a Direct Hit on Missile, (by Vernon Loeb, The Washington Post, Sunday, July 15, 2001; Page A01)
- Pentagon: Missile Test a Success, (by Robert Burns, Associated Press, Sunday, July 15, 2001; 12:44 AM)
- Pentagon plans for 4-6 Flight Tests of the NMD System over a 1.5 Years, - in Russian, (Strana.Ru, July 15, 2001)
- Pentagon Not in a Hurry, - in Russian, (by Artur Blinov, Vremya MN, July 14, 2001)
- Bush Prepares a Surprise for Putin, - in Russian, (by Vasiliy Sergeyev, Gazeta.Ru, July 14, 2001)
- Pentagon Sets Ambitious Tests of Missile Plan, (by James Dao, The New York Times, July 13, 2001)
- The Result is Not Important, - in Russian, (by Vladimir Kozlovsky, Vremya Novostey, July 13, 2001)
- Making missile shield inevitable, (by Peter Grier, Christian Science Monitor, July 13, 2001)
Russia and China signed a treaty on good neighborly friendship and cooperation yesterday. Both sides expressed importance of the ABM Treaty of 1972.
- Presidents Of China, Russia Sign Pact, (by Susan B. Glasser, The Washington Post, Tuesday, July 17, 2001; Page A13)
- Russia and China Sign 'Friendship' Pact, (by Patrick E. Tyler, The New York Times, July 17, 2001)
- Russia and China Sign Friendship Agreement, (by Reuters, July 16, 2001)
- The Treaty on Good Neighborly Friendship and Cooperation Between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, July 17, 2001 (excerpts), see also the official text of the treaty (in Russian)
- Russia and China forge pact against 'Star Wars', (by Damien McElroy and David Wastell, Telegraph, July 15, 2001)
American embassies have been warned that planned missile defence tests will come into conflict with the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty within "months, not years". The warning, in a 14-page memorandum, gives the first indication that the treaty may be violated much sooner than Western governments had been led to believe. Russian MFA expressed surprise concerning this issue.
- Missile Defense Rush, (The Washington Post, July 16, 2001),
- Washington in a Hurry, - in Russian, (by Alexei Lyaschenko, Krasnaya Zvezda, July 14, 2001)
- US Speeds Up Withdrawal from the ABM Treaty, - in Russian, (by Vadim Solovyev, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, July 13, 2001)
- Bush Speeds Up Plans To Build NMD Shield, (by Carol Giacomo, The Moscow Times, Friday, Jul. 13, 2001. Page 1)
- Russian MFA Press Release concerning the US planned missile defense system testing, July 13, 2001
- The ABM Ambush, (by Philip E. Coyle, The Washington Post, Friday, July 13, 2001; Page A21)
- Pentagon to break arms pact in months, (by Michael Evans and Ben Macintyre, The Times, July 13, 2001)
- From remarks by national security adviser Condoleezza Rice at a National Press Club luncheon, on Thursday, July 12, 2001, (The Washington Post, Friday, July 13, 2001; Page A20)
- Bush Speeds Missile Defense Plans, (by Vernon Loeb and Thomas E. Ricks, The Washington Post, Thursday, July 12, 2001; Page A01)
- Tests that Washington Hints about are Illegal by US Laws, - in Russian, (by Dmitri Gornostayev, Strana.Ru, July 12, 2001)
- America Withdrew from the ABM Treaty, - in Russian, (by Aleksander Kornilov, Gazeta.Ru, July 12, 2001)
- Bush Team Sees U.S. Withdrawal From ABM Pact, (by Paul Richter, Los Angeles Times, July 12, 2001)
- Test a Little, Deploy a Little: Is That So Wrong?, (by Joseph Cirincione, Carnegie Endowment for Peace, Thursday, July 12, 2001)
- The Administration's Principal Themes on Missile Defense: Questions and Answers
In an exclusive interview to Corriere Della Sera President Vladimir Putin again stressed an official Russian approach toward US plans to deploy NMD - abrogation of the NMD Treaty will lead to a collapse of the arms control regime:
- Putin: Russia is not afraid of the US, (Utro.Ru, July 16, 2001)
- An interview of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to the Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera, - in Russian, , July 11, 2001
- An interview of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to the Italian TV Channel RAI-1, - in Russian, July 11, 2001
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said on Saturday in an interview at the State Department that the United States "needs an understanding, an agreement, a treaty, something with the Russians that allows us to move forward with our missile defense programs":
- The US Wants to a New Missile Defense Agreement with Russia, (Strana.ru, July 14, 2001)
- Powell Says U.S. Will Seek Arms Accord With Russia, (by Steven Mufson and Alan Sipress, The Washington Post, Saturday, July 14, 2001; Page A01)
The Bush Administration plans wide-scale testing of their "limited missile defenses" in Alaska, where construction of launch sites for NMD missiles was supposed to begin this Fall:
- Missile Defense: Unprepared for Manifest Peril, (by Paul Wolfowitz, International Herald Tribune, Monday, July 16, 2001)
- A Cubic Meter of Concrete in Alaska Can Complete Russian-American Dispute over Missile Defenses, (by Alexei Germanovich, Vedomosti, July 13, 2001)
- War Ruse, - in Russian, (by Evgueni Bay, Izvestia, July 12, 2001)
- Pentagon to Seek Money for Testing Missile Defense, (by James Dao, The New York Times, July 10, 2001)
US radar in Vardo, Norway, not far from Russian space launch site Plestsk, violates the 1972 ABM Treaty, says Nezavisimaya Gazeta: US Monitors Russian Missiles Illegally, - in Russian, (by Dmitri Gornostayev, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, July 11, 2001). See also our special section: Vardo Radar: US Unfriendly Action or Violation of the ABM Treaty? - in Russian.
Senate Democrats sharply criticized the Bush administration's missile defense plan. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that the Committee will not support Administration's plans on this issue:
- Nuclear Arms Still Keep the Peace, (by Robert S. McNamara and Thomas Graham Jr., The New York Times, July 15, 2001)
- No Sensations on NMD, - in Russian, (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, July 14, 2001)
- Senate Democrats Blast Bush's Missile Defense Plan, (by Vernon Loeb, The Washington Post, July 13, 2001)
- Democrats Pelt Bush's Missile Shield With Verbal Attacks, (Paul Richter, Los Angeles Times, July 13, 2001)
The Committee on Government Reform has obtained a Pentagon report critical of the national missile defense testing program. The report, compiled by Philip Coyle, former Director of Operational Test and Evaluation in the Defense Department, reveals severe deficiencies in the Pentagon’s plan to test missile defenses: The Coyle Report: A Comprehensive Pentagon Study Criticizing the National Missile Defense Test Program
The commander of US strategic nuclear forces has forcefully, though indirectly, challenged President Bush's plan to slash the number of warheads and take intercontinental ballistic missiles off "hair-trigger" alert: Nuclear Arms Chief Questions Cut in Warheads, (by Walter Pincus, The Washington Post, Sunday, July 15, 2001; Page A06)
Colonel-General Leonid Ivashov, who heads the Russian defense ministry's department of international military cooperation, relieved from his post:
- Generals Change Themselves, - in Russian, (by Aleksander Chuykov, Izvestia, July 14, 2001)
- Sergey Ivanov Made Generals Change Their Seats, - in Russian, (by Ilya Bulavinov, Kommersant, July 14, 2001)
A Bush administration review of American assistance to Russia has concluded that most of the programs aimed at helping Russia stop the spread of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons are vital to American security and should be continued: U.S. Review on Russia Urges Keeping Most Arms Controls, (by Judith Miller and Michael R. Gordon, The New York Times, July 16, 2001)
Russian experts at the Kurchatov Institute, the renowned nuclear research center in Moscow, recently found what appears to be a critical deficiency in the internal U.S. system for keeping track of all bomb-grade nuclear materials held by the Energy Department -- enough material for tens of thousands of nuclear bombs: Nukes: A Lesson From Russia, (by Bruce G. Blair, The Washington Post, Wednesday, July 11, 2001; Page A19)
US and UK media reports that the US intends to break the nine-year moratorium on nuclear testing and to withdraw from the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. This conclusion has been made based on a report made by authorized officials from the Bush Administration on the timing of preparation for new experiments on the Nevada test range:
- Doomsday, (by Rebecca Johnson, Guardian, Tuesday July 17, 2001)
- Interview Granted by Alexander Yakovenko, the Official Spokesman of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the Russian News Agency RIA Novosti in Respect of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty , July 13, 2001.
- US Throws New Challenge, - in Russian, (by Vadim Solovyev, Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, July 13, 2001)
- Nuclear Testing and National Honor, (by Richard Butler, The New York Times, July 13, 2001)
- Atomic Bomb Waited Until its Time?, - in Russian, (by Andrei Vaganov, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, July 11, 2001)
- Step in the Opposite Direction? - in Russian, (by Vadim Markushin, Krasnaya Zvezda, July 12, 2001)
- Nevada Test Range to be Decocooned, - in Russian, (by Vadim Sergeyev, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, July 10, 2001)
- Season of Nuclear Mushrooms, - in Russian, (by Dmitri Starostin, Vesti.Ru, July 10, 2001) - an interview with the Head of the Center for Defense Information's Moscow Office Ivan Safranchuk
- Test Ranges Ask for Fire, - in Russian, (by Aleksander Shumilin, Izvestia, July 10, 2001)
- Comprehensive Permission, - in Russian, (by Evgueni Antonov, Vremya Novostey, July 10, 2001)
- "Gazeta.Ru" Starts American Nuclear Tests, - in Russian, (by Pyotr Belkin, SMI.Ru, July 9, 2001)
- Will Putin Face "Nuclear Test"?, - in Russian, (SMI.Ru, July 9, 2001)
President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday signed a law that allows imports of spent nuclear fuel to Russia:
- Waste Will Bring Woe, Not Wealth, (The Moscow Times, Tuesday, Jul. 17, 2001. Page 12)
- Greens outraged as Putin signs nuclear imports law, (by Amelia Gentleman, Guardian, July 12, 2001)
- Putin Gives Green Light To Nuclear Fuel Imports, (The Moscow Times, Thursday, Jul. 12, 2001. Page 3)
- Federal Law of Russian Federation on Special Ecological Programs of Rehabilitation of Radiation-Polluted Areas, - in Russian, July 10, 2001
- Supplements to the Federal Law of Russian Federation "On the Use of Atomic Energy", - in Russian, July 10, 2001
- Federal Law of Russian Federation on Supplements to Article 50 of the Law of RSFSR "On Protection of Environment", July 10, 2001
Managing the Atom Project at Harvard University and the Project on Socio-technics of Nuclear Energy at the University of Tokyo published a new report: Interim Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel: A Safe, Flexible, and Cost-Effective Near-Term Approach to Spent Fuel Management (by Matthew Bunn, John P. Holdren, Allison Macfarlane, Susan E. Pickett, Atsuyuki Suzuki, Tatsujiro Suzuki, and Jennifer Weeks, Cambridge, MA, June 2001)
At the Russian START Forum: on the reasons for US intention to renew nuclear tests, and other topics.
July 9, 2001
Tuesday, July 3, 2001 National Press Institute held a presentation of our Center's new publication U.S.-Russian Relations in Nuclear Arms Reductions: Current State and Prospects, - in Russian, (A.S. Diakov, ed.). Russian media comment on the event:
- NMD is a Myth of US World Domination, - in Russian, (Strana.Ru, July 4, 2001)
- Time to Resume Missile Production, - in Russian, (by Georgiy Ilyichev, Dmitriy Safonov, Izvestia, July 4, 2001)
- NMD Deployment Will Not Ensure US Security, - in Russian, (by Tikhon Petrovsky, Strana.Ru, July 3, 2001)
The main outcome of the Russian-French summit was the signing of a joint declaration on strategic stability:
- Joint Statement by the President of the Russian Federation and the President of the French Republic on Strategic Issues, Russian MFA Press Release, July 3, 2001
- Chirac and Putin Became Anti-Bush Friends, - in Russian, (by Ksenia Fokina, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, July 3, 2001)
- Cool!, - in Russian, (by Nikolai Paklin, Rossijskaya Gazeta, July 3, 2001)
- Russia and France Believe that Abolishment of the 1972 ABM Treaty Will Bring New Threats, - in Russian, (by Anton Bilzho, Strana.Ru, July 2, 2001)
- President of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and President of French Republic Jacques Chirac Speak to the Press, - in Russian, transcript of the press conference, July 2, 2001
Russia proposed that the five long-established nuclear powers start multilateral talks aimed at eliminating 10,000 warheads in the next seven years:
- Russia Seeks 5-Nation Talks On Reducing Nuclear Arms, (by Peter Baker, The Washington Post, Saturday, July 7, 2001; Page A19)
- Moscow's Idea on a Discussion Between P5 Has Some Chances For Success, - in Russian, (by Dmitri Gornostayev, Strana. Ru, July 6, 2001)
- Washington Is in a One Boat With the Members of the Nuclear Club, - in Russian, (by Yevgeni Vasil'yev, Vremya MN, July 7, 2001)
- Interview Granted by Alexander Yakovenko, the Official Spokesman of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to Interfax News Agency in Connection with the New Russian Strategic Stability Initiative, July 6, 2001
Colonel-General Leonid Ivashov, who heads the Russian defense ministry's department of international military cooperation, said that the ABM Treaty could be subject to modifications, but ruled out any changes that would allow US to deploy NMD:
- Modifications and Changes Are Different Things, - in Russian, (by Vadim Solovyev, Nezavisimoye Voeyennoe Obozreniye, July 6, 2001)
- General Says Accord Could Be Modified, (by Agence France-Presse, The Washington Times, June 30, 2001)
- Top General: Russia Open to ABM Changes, (by Reuters, Friday June 29 6:11 AM ET)
How to untangle the mass of incompatible and self-contradictory Russian and American positions on the ABM Treaty? Alexei Arbatov, Deputy Chair of the Defense Committee of the State Duma believes that first of all, recently made decisions on the development of strategic nuclear forces, which are very vulnerable from the strategic point of view, have to be revised: Once Again on Missile Defenses. Is the Formula of Stability Attainable?, - in Russian, (by Alexei Arbatov, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, July 4, 2001). See also:
- Moving From Bipolar to Multipolar World. Russian Nuclear Forces In Modern Conditions, - in Russian, (by V.N. Mikhailov, Wek, July 6, 2001). The author is a Member of Russian Academy of Sciences, Scientific Adviser of the Russian Federal Nuclear Center in Sarov, Director of the Institute of Strategic Stability.
- Putin Ready to Reduce Nuclear Arsenals, - in Russian, (by Yuri Zhigalkin, Vremya MN, July 4, 2001)
- ABM: Pro et Contra, - in Russian, (by Maxim Makarychev, Rossijskaya Gazeta, July 3, 2001)
- Treaty Trouble, (by Art Buchwald, The Washington Post, Tuesday, July 3, 2001; Page C02)
- After Slovenia Summit: U.S. Problems and Russai's Dilemmas, (by Yuri Fyodorov, PIR Center, Letter of July, 2001)
- Giving the Gruel - 2, - in Russian, (Novaya Gazeta, July 2, 2001)
- Vladimir Putin's Asymmetric Trinomial, - in Russian, (by Andrei Piontkovsky, Novaya Gazeta, July 2, 2001)
- Putin's Statement: a Threat or a Hint?, - in Russian, (by Vladimir Kulagin, Novaya Gazeta, July 2, 2001)
Several Western European nations joined Russia's allies yesterday in calling for continued adherence to the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, dealing a rebuff to a U.S. congressional delegation and demonstrating again that the United States faces an uphill battle to win foreign support for its missile defense plan (Europe Rebuffs Plan To Drop ABM Treaty, (by Bruce I. Konviser, The Washington Times, July 9, 2001)
After months of delay, the Pentagon said Friday it will attempt to shoot down a missile outside the Earth's atmosphere on July 14, the first missile defense test of its kind since a failed intercept one year ago.
- Ballistic Missile Defense Test in the U.S.: Military Will Try to Shut Down Their Own Missile Once Again, - in Russian, (Lenta.Ru, July 7, 2001)
- Pentagon Sets Fourth Test of Missile For July 14, (by James Dao, The New York Times, July 7, 2001)
- Pentagon Sets Missile Defense Test, (by Robert Burns, Associated Press, Friday, July 6, 2001; 4:40 PM)
On June 28 the Bush administration submitted to the Congress the amended budget for the Department of Defense of $329 billion, which means the net increase of $18.4 billion -- a record sum over the last two decades. The amended budget provides for almost a two-fold increase of NMD allocations compared to current year -- just under $8 billion:
- Missile Defense Returns To Basics, (by Associated Press, The Washington Times, July 9, 2001)
- Plan B: Missile Defense Backups. Alternate Contractors Could Be Hired Under 2003 Budget, (by Greg Schneider, The Washington Post, Saturday, July 7, 2001; Page A12)
- Pentagon Launches NMD Deployment Mechanism, - in Russian, (by Vadim Solovyev, Nezavisimoye Voeyennoe Obozreniye, July 6, 2001)
- Testimony Before the House Armed Services Committee: Fiscal Year 2002 National Defense Authorization Budget Request, as given by Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Hugh Shelton, and Comptroller Dov Zakheim , Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC, Thursday, June 28, 2001.
- Bush Budget Lays Foundation for National Missile Shield, (by Paul Richter, Los Angeles Times, June 28, 2001)
- Background Briefing on the Fiscal Year 2002 Budget Amendment, Friday, June 22, 2001 - 5:15 p.m. EDT
Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement that welcomes the Washington's initiative and expresses belief that the dismantling of the MX ICBMs and their launchers will be carried out by the American side with due consideration of the provisions and procedures envisaged by START-1 (Russian MFA Press Release, July 3, 2001). See also:
- B-1 Blundering, (by Jackson Diehl, The Washington Post, Monday, July 9, 2001; Page A17)
- Daschle: Bush Missile Plan May Warrant Support, (by Reuters, Sunday July 1 1:13 PM ET)
- Let The B-1 Fade Away, (Los Angeles Times, July 1, 2001)
President Bush's new concept of deterrence in the post-Cold War world stands in sharp contrast to deterrence strategy outlined in a newly released but once classified study done by the U.S. Strategic Command in 1996: Military Study Mulled Deterrence of 'Fear', (by Walter Pincus, The Washington Post, Thursday, July 5, 2001; Page A09)
Proceedings of the international conference "Partnership for Peace: Creation of Long-term Cooperation on North-East Asia Security" held in Fudan University (Shanghai, China) have been published. Well-known arms control experts from US, China, Russia, Japan and South Korea took part in the meeting.
The Bush administration examines ways to escape permanently from an unratified international agreement banning nuclear tests:
- U.S. Are Going to Resume Nuclear Tests, - in Russian, (Lenta.Ru, July 7, 2001)
- White House Wants to Bury Pact Banning Tests of Nuclear Arms, (by Thom Shanker and David E. Sanger, The New York Times, July 7, 2001)
Bush administration's energy plan is a reference to an alternative approach to disposing of radioactive waste from nuclear power plants. "Reprocessing," the plan asserts, could help alleviate one of the major drawbacks to nuclear energy:
- New Start for the World Nuclear Energy, - in Russian, (by Andrey Gagarinsky, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, July 6, 2001)
- Nuclear Reprocessing Sets Off Alarms Again, (by Guy Gugliotta, The Washington Post, Monday, July 2, 2001; Page A03)
Russian Federation Council passed the bill that allows to import spent nuclear fuel into Russian territory. Two other bills from the "nuclear package" were sent to the President without hearings. Final decision on the import of spent nuclear fuel (that would allow Russian to earn $1 billion a year) will be made within a month:
- Russia's nuclear-waste gambit, (by Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, July 3, 2001)
- Who is the Switchman?, - in Russian, (by Ivan Dvoitsyn, Wek, June 29, 2001)
At the Russian START Forum: START I limitations on movement of mobile missiles, and other topics.
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