Washington, DC, June 28, 1995.

Hon. Carl Levin,

U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.

Dear Senator Levin. Thank you for your letter and the opportunity to express my views concerning the impact of Senator Warner's proposed language for the FY 1996 Defense Authorization Bill on current theater missile defense (TMD) programs.

Because the Russians have repeatedly linked the ABM Treaty with other arms control issues--particularly ratification of START II now before the Duma--we cannot assume they would deal in isolation with unilateral US legislation detailing technical parameters for ABM Treaty interpretation. While we believe that START II is in both countries' interests regardless of other events, we must assume such unilateral US legislation could harm prospect for START II ratification by the Duma and probably impact our broader security relationship with Russia as well.

We are continuing to work on TMD systems. The ongoing testing of THAAD through the demonstration/validation program has been certified ABM Treaty complaint as has the Navy Upper Tier program. Thus, progress on these programs is not restricted by the lack of a demarcation agreement. We have no plans and do not desire to test THAAD or other TMD systems in an ABM mode.

Even though testing and development of TMD systems is underway now, we believe it is useful to continue discussions with the Russians to seek resolution of the ABM /TMD issue in a way which preserves our security equities. Were such dialogue to be prohibited, we might eventually find ourselves forced to choose between giving up elements of our TMD development programs or proceeding unilaterally in a manner which could undermine the ABM Treaty and our broader security relationship with Russia. Either alternative would impose security costs and risks which we are seeking to avoid.

Sincerely,

John M. Shalikashvili,

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

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