V. American Leadership In the World -

Reducing the Nuclear Threat

"Over the last two years, the United States has made real progress in lifting the threat of nuclear weapons. Now, in 1995, we face a year of particular decision in this era -- a year in which the United States will pursue the most ambitious agenda to dismantle and fight the spread of weapons of mass destruction since the atom was split."

-- President Clinton
March 1, 1995

Reducing the Nuclear Threat Today

• Through difficult negotiations, we helped ensure that no new nuclear powers emerged from the breakup of the Soviet Union. U.S. leadership was critical to winning adherence by Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan to START and to the NPT as non-nuclear weapons states.

• The START I and II arms control treaties will result in reductions of nearly two-thirds in strategic nuclear forces. Both sides are dismantling nuclear weapons at a steady pace -- up to 2000 weapons a year.

• Today, not a single Russian missle is targeted at America.

• Through the Nunn-Lugar program, our nuclear labs are helping their Russian counterparts upgrade security on nuclear materials and we ve reached agreement with Russia to end verifiably the production of plutonium for weapons purposes. We also shipped nearly 600 kilograms of weapons-usable uranium from Kazakhstan to safe storage in the United States.

• The Administration negotiated an Agreed Framework that for the first time commits North Korea to freeze and eventually dismantle its existing nuclear program under international monitoring. It also continues strong support for UN and IAEA monitoring of the elimination of Iraq s nuclear, chemical/biological and missile capabilities.

In other parts of the world, the trend towards proliferation has been reversed as well:

• South Africa destroyed its nuclear weapons and adhered to the NPT as a non-nuclear weapons state.

• With Russia, we co-sponsored the Arms Control and Regional Security talks in the Middle East.

• We are supporting regional nonproliferation dialogue in South Asia and encouraging weapon-free zones where they can help further reduce the dangers of nuclear proliferation on a regional basis.

• We have achieved important agreements with Russia and China to restrain missile-related exports, as well as commitments from other key suppliers -- South Africa, Ukraine, and Argentina -- to observe the guidelines of the Missile Technology Control Regime.

Ensuring America s Security Tomorrow

• The United States will work with other nations toward indefinite and unconditional extension of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the cornerstone of global nonproliferation efforts. Its internationally verified commitments against nuclear proliferation create a dependable security environment, bolster regional stability and make possible further arms control and disarmament measures.

• The President has urged the Senate to give its advice and consent to ratification of START II and the Chemical Weapons Convention, whichwill ban poison gas worldwide.

• We are pushing to conclude a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and a global ban on the production of fissile material for weapons.

• The Administration will continue to fight against international terrorism and redouble our efforts to stop nuclear smuggling and nuclear-related crimes through stepped-up cooperation with our allies.

• We are leading efforts to replace COCOM with a new international export control regime that will limit the flow of sensitive technology and conventional arms to potential proliferators, such as Iran.

• We are seeking the ratification of the Convention on Conventional Weapons, which will advance U.S. efforts to reduce the suffering caused by the indiscriminate use of antipersonnel landmines.

• We are working to negotiate legally-binding measures to strengthen the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.