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The United States of America and the Russian Federation,
hereinafter referred to as the Parties,
Embarking upon the path of new relations for a new century
and committed to the goal of strengthening their relationship
through cooperation and friendship,
Believing that new global challenges and threats require
the building of a qualitatively new foundation for strategic
relations between the Parties,
Desiring to establish a genuine partnership based on the
principles of mutual security, cooperation, trust, openness,
and predictability,
Committed to implementing significant reductions in strategic
offensive arms,
Proceeding from the Joint Statements by the President of
the United States of America and the President of the Russian
Federation on Strategic Issues of July 22, 2001 in Genoa and
on a New Relationship between the United States and Russia
of November 13, 2001 in Washington,
Mindful of their obligations under the Treaty Between the
United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive
Arms of July 31, 1991, hereinafter referred to as the START
Treaty,
Mindful of their obligations under Article VI of the Treaty
on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons of July 1, 1968,
and Convinced that this Treaty will help to establish more
favorable conditions for actively promoting security and cooperation,
and enhancing international stability,
Have agreed as follows:
Article I
Each Party shall reduce and limit strategic nuclear warheads,
as stated by the President of the United States of America
on November 13, 2001 and as stated by the President of the
Russian Federation on November 13, 2001 and December 13, 2001
respectively, so that by December 31, 2012 the aggregate number
of such warheads does not exceed 1700-2200 for each Party.
Each Party shall determine for itself the composition and
structure of its strategic offensive arms, based on the established
aggregate limit for the number of such warheads.
Article II
The Parties agree that the START Treaty remains
in force in accordance with its terms.
Article III
For purposes of implementing this Treaty, the Parties shall
hold meetings at least twice a year of a Bilateral Implementation
Commission.
Article IV
1. This Treaty shall be subject to ratification in accordance
with the constitutional procedures of each Party. This Treaty
shall enter into force on the date of the exchange of instruments
of ratification.
2. This Treaty shall remain in force until December 31, 2012
and may be extended by agreement of the Parties or superseded
earlier by a subsequent agreement.
3. Each Party, in exercising its national sovereignty, may
withdraw from this Treaty upon three months written notice
to the other Party.
Article V
This Treaty shall be registered pursuant to Article 102 of
the Charter of the United Nations.
Done at Moscow on May 24, 2002, in two copies, each in the
English and Russian languages, both texts being equally authentic.
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