Mr. Kenneth H. Bacon, ATSD (PA)
Tuesday, October 10, 1995 - 1:45 p.m.
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Q: Did Secretary Perry and Minister Grachev at all address the issue of demarcation parameters as they relate to the deployment of theater missile defenses and the ABM Treaty that were left open following the Yeltsin/Clinton agreement in May?
A: They did not. I'm glad, though, you brought up the other issues, aside from the Bosnian peace implementation force. It's worth reading the press conference that they gave, because General Grachev made, I thought, two very important remarks. First, he, in discussing the CFE Treaty which deals with the conventional weapons deployed in flanks, he said that the CFE Treaty was fundamental to the security of Europe. Those weren't his exact words, but he did say it played a very important role in the security of Europe and gave a strong endorsement of this treaty.
Secondly, he noted that although Russia remains steadfastly opposed to NATO expansion eastward, that even if this expansion occurs -- and it will -- they plan to continue dealing with NATO and continue dealing with the West on important security matters. So I regard both of these comments as very important signs that the Russians are prepared to enter into a fairly significant security dialogue with NATO and with the European powers on a range of issues.
Q: I'd like to follow up on the ABM Treaty. Are there plans for the two at some point to actually come out and say we've finally settled on something? Or are they going to continue negotiating this?
A: Our view is that right now the ABM Treaty allows us to do what we want to do. We'll continue on that course.
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