Joint United States-Russian Statement on a Global Protection System

The Presidents continued their discussion of the potential benefits of a Global Protection System (GPS) against ballistic missiles, agreeing that it is important to explore the role for defenses in protecting against limited ballistic missile attacks. The two Presidents agreed that their two nations should work together with allies and other interested states in developing a concept for such a system as part of an overall strategy regarding the proliferation of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction. Such cooperation would be a tangible expression of the new relationship that exists between Russia and the United States and would involve them in an important undertaking with other nations of the world community.

The two Presidents agreed it is necessary to start work without delay to develop the concept of the GPS. For this purpose they agreed to establish a high-level group to explore on a priority basis the following practical steps:

-- The potential for sharing of early warning information through the establishment of an early warning center.

-- The potential for cooperation with participating states in developing ballistic missile defense capabilities and technologies.

-- The development of a legal basis for cooperation, including new treaties and agreements and possible changes to existing treaties and agreements necessary to implement a Global Protection System.

DONE at Washington, this seventeenth day of June, 1992, in two copies, each in the English and Russian languages, both texts being equally authentic.

FOR THE UNITED STATES OF

AMERICA

George Bush

FOR THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Boris Yeltsin