CO 6 6 9 4 5 O2 1ED U S Department of State Case No F-2017-1 804 Doc No C06694502 Date 03 29 2019 CONFIDENTIAL CONPIBBN'PIAL THE WHITE HOUSE 0586 RELEASE IN FULLI WASHINGTON IDECLASSIFIEDI MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION SUBJECT Seconrl Expandea Bilate ral Session with President Boris Yeltsin of Russia U PARTICIPANTS The President Warren Christopher Secretary of State Thomas Pickering U S Ambassador to Russia Mack McLarty Chief of Staff David Gergen Counselor to the President Anthony Lake Assistant to the President f r National Security Affairs Leon Fuerth Assistant to the Vice President for National Security Affairs Strobe Talbott · Deputy Secretary of State Designate Frank Wisner Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr Lynn Davis Under Secretary of State for International Security Affairs LTG Michael Ryan Assistant to the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Rose Gottemoeller Director for Russia Ukraine and Eurasia Affairs NSC Staff N0tetaker Dmitry Zarechnak Interpreter Boris Yeltsin Pres1dent of Russian Federation Andrei Kozyrev Foreign Minister Vladimir Lukin Russian Ambassador to the U S Yurii Baturin Secretary of National Security Council Viktor Ilyushin Advisor to President Yeltsin General Pavel Grachev Defense Minister Sergey Fiiatov Chief of Presidential Administration Georgiy Mamedov Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Lobov Head of National Security Counci Dmitriy Ryurikov President's National Security Advisor DATE TIME AND PLACE January 14 1994 9 35 - 11 15 a m St Catherine's Hall The Kremlin The President Mr President today we are going to talk about security and foreign policy Thank you again for the dinner I ate so much that I don't know if I feel more or less secure U cm FIDElH' FIAL DPc- lr1ss1 fv on OADR DECLASSIFICATION AUTHORITY Geoffrey W Chapman Senior Reviewer A GIS IPS 3 25 2019 ·------ - --- ------- -- - - ------------- UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2017-13804 Doc No C06694502 Date 03 29 2019 CO 6 6 9 4 5 O2 IED U S Department of State Case No F-2017-13804 Doc No C06694502 Date 03 29 2019 I·' Ji' '-''--'' l' F•'1 - 1·1L I 2 eONFIEJE ffHrL President Yeltsin From the medicinal point of view all of Lt was beneficial U The President In no area have the results of our cooperation and partnership been more dramatic than in the area of arms control and nonproliferation U Successful agreement on the Missile Technology Control Regime MTCR underpins the broad cope of future spac cooperation including our Space Station partnership The United States supports full Russian membership in the MTCR We have gone a long way toward the mutual goal of eliminating nuclear weapons from Belarus and Kazakhstan Where Ukraine is concerned Lhe agreement we celebrated today shows how far we've come in che past year And our cooperation on safe and secure dismantlemen has advanced to include a broad scope of cooperation includino defense conversion You asked me yesterday to commit to· allocating ten percent of Nunn-Lugar funds directly to research facilities an d I have promised to do so C I am also very pleased that we are signing today the contract for the purchase of highly enriched uranium HEU from Russia You and I have been wanting to do this since Vancouver The contract is worth at least $12 billion to Russia over the 20-year life of the contract This is a very positive initiative U President Yeltsin Nodding Yes u I i I The President Let me take a few minutes to talk about the momentum of arms control -- how to keep going to resolve old business and gin ew We must proceed as rapidly as possible to implement START I The Ukraine agreement signed today will help us to do that I think we should also look forward to the ratification of START II We should discuss how we will press· ahead with START II -- how you intend to press ahead wich the ri parlia ent U Now let's talk about the old business of biological weapons which we have discussed before I understand that you have· made a personal commitment to end the offensive biological weapons program that you inherited from the Soviet Union when you became President of Russia U Yeltsin nods Our people believe that there is still illegal work going on our specialists have handed your side a report summarizing our concerns I look forward to continuing to work with you to resolve this problem C Yeltsin shakes his head vigorously and continues to shake his head pointing to Minister of Defense Grachev who also shakes his head President Yeltsin rouPTnf ur pn r There is no illegal work onrinnrt111a1 U UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2017-13804 Doc No C06694502 Date 03 29 2019 CO 6 6 9 4 5 O2 IED U S Department of State Case No F-2017-13804 Doc No C06694502 Date 03 29 2019 -- 3 The President I am glad we have accelerated progress on chemical weapon issues The U S and Russia have the largest cw stockpiles and we should lead the way on early ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention CWC The United States is seeking Senate ratification by July -- we hope the Russian parliament will too C Presiderit Yeltsin We have ratified the Chernical - eapons Convention We are not producrng any new weapons C ' Minister of Defense Grachev in a quiet aside to Prime Minister Chernomyrdin says that Russia has ratified the ewe and tha he will tell the U S side Russian plans in that regard The President We have asked you to rat1fy ·oy July If you ha' re already ratified then we have to do a Bilateral Destruction Agreement that is consistent with the ewe That's our· next job C Now on fissile materials we already have broad agreement on the potentiaL for progress We appreciate the support you have given for a multilateral convention banning production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons I welcome your willingness to place materials under international safeguards I think we should plan 0ilateral expert talks on this subject I also want to welcome the Chernomyrdin-Gore working groups on shutting down plutonium production reactors·and on nuclear mat ri l co trol·and accounting These are big issues for us too and we look forward to working with you on them U On the question of regional security threats - it is i T porta·nt work closely on issues affecting North Korea the Middle East Iraq and South Asia We have done a lot since ·vancouver on replacing COCOM with a regime in which Russia would be an original member We have a joint statement in that regard It confirms Russia's readiness to end arms trade with Iran Libya Iraq and North Korea U President Yeltsin Korea U Interrupting -Iran Libya Iraq North· i ' • The President Yes We think the advantages of membership in this COCOM follow-on regime far outweigh the profits from arms sales to these countries Last night we had a short discussion of the Iran issue You reminded me that the submarine sale was made under the USSR before you became President of Russia Our State Department believes that your sales have been-more extensive I want to do a few more issues then give the floor to Dr Lynn Davis who knows the facts on Iran ·cc Regarding the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty we will need to work closely to secure the agreement of those countries still straddling the fence to the unconditional and indefinite extension of the NPTl in 1995 U CNJPTD • I J T P T rnr n 1 r r--lTl Al UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2017-13804 Doc No C06694502 Date 03 29 2019 CO 6 6 9 4 5 O2 IED U S Department of State Case No F-2017-13804 Doc No C06694502 Date 03 29 2019 er - -- - 'T 1 l _ l• • - - • ' ·• • 4 cmwIDElU'FL L I've also been very glad to hear that e have been able to work together on a Comprehensive Test Ban I appreciate that you've continued the testing moratorium despice the recent Chinese test I hope we can continue our bilateral cooperation on CTB issues as well as coordinate our positions among the P-5 anticipating the formal opening of CTB negotiations later this monch U · I'd like to mention a few mo -•E ' issues · As you know we are proceeding with a welcome firsi-stei in strategic disengagement Joint detargeting Now we have to move to fuller strategic disengagement Our experts will be meeting later chis month to discuss joint measures such as not1fy1ng strategic forces exercises These measures help lend credibility to what we are both trying to achieve to lessen tensions C The last issue I'd like to discuss has co do with the ABM Treac I'm pleased with the progress we've mace in technical talks on· the recent U S proposals to multilateralize the ABM Treaty and create a demarcation between theater and strategic missile def ens es C Minister Grachev Interrupting Strategic and non-strategic u The President · Yes As you know we take the ABM Treaty very seriously We intend to work with you to make sure that this treaty regime continues intact In that regard I have a· suggestion I would like to put to you on the ABM site at Skrunda Latvia C President Yeltsin Skr nda D The President Yes the ABM radar at SKrunda I understand you need a reasonable time to withdraw from chat site That is truly understandable but I wanted to raise ith you the possibility of splitting the difference in your negotiations with Latvia over the withdrawal Because of the other issues we have to address in Estonia if we deal well with this issue in Latvia it would really help to send a good signal bout our Fartnership and· Russia's leadership role in Europe It would have a positive impact on our Partnership for Peace discussions all across Europe As I understand the presept state of the negotiations Russia is asking for five years of continued pr sence at the radar site and two years to withdraw while Liatvia is asking for three years of pre ence and one year to withdraw I would·· suggest that you split the differenc -If you are willing I will do everything I can to secure Latvia's agreement to a fouryear eighteen-month split C Now I would like to turn to Dr Davis so that she· can go over the facts on the Iran arms sales to clear the air U Dr Davis Russia is now Iran's major arms supplier the only country sending modern weapons to Iran These deliveries amounted to $600 million this year and included advanced fighter aircraft and tanks as well as the missiles to be delivered by f10UPTFH7H'PH f r nf' T n UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2017-13804 Doc No C06694502 Date 03 29 2019 CO 6 6 9 4 5 O2 IED U S Department of State Case No F-2017-13804 Doc No C06694502 Date 03 29 2019 COHPIDOH'fIAL 5 these sophisticated aircraft I have shared these details with some of your staff The COCOM regime will end in the next month to be replaced with a new export control regime that would have Russia as one of its original members With that membership will come the benefits of high-technology trade in arms In that context I hope you will make it possible to end the sale of arms to Iran oni of the ost serious threats facing you and us C Presiden't Yeltsii We have a full- plate of issues - - of course they are no less relevant for us than they are for you We will begin with some issues to be discussed by the Minister of Defense ·then I will discuss other issues U Minister Grachev Taking into account the fact that we have qu te a few issues to touch on I would like to begin with biological·weapons We understand your anxiety but I would like to inform you that in the context of the 1992 Trilateral Statement your and UK experts visited two facilities after September 1992 and one in St Petersburg before September 1992 We have agreed on a further schedule of visits and working group meetings In response to your lingering concerns we are prepared to organize visits of your expe Ls to any other-facility and also information exchanges to deal with any uncertainty But these activities can only take place on a reciprocal basis We work from that principle with you we must insist on reciprocity We also want to work with you on an international verification mechanism for the Biological Weapons Conv ntion C On chemical weapons we have encountered problems with implementation This is an economic matter C President Yeltsin just destroy U Interrupting But we will not produce Minister Grai hev With the resolution o E -three major tasks e · will be able to ratify the Chemical Weapons Conven ion · The first is conversion of production f ciijties the second is financing of destruction and the third is preparing facilities for the physical process of elimina t_i_o_n WE _nE ed to re_sol-v_e_ these tasks in the fastest possible time in order to ease ratification of the convention It is ver-y important ·fo-r ·t here to be some economic benefits We have to be able to demonstrate that value is being extracted from chemical w_eapons plants through conversion In order to be able to selL the convention to our Parliament we will have to be fable to show that we are getting value for the facilities C On the fissile material cutoff we do not see a problem with concluding this on a bilateral basis This is indicated by the way in which you stopped production of weapons grade plutonium I would like to inform you that we will cease to operate plutonium production reactors by the year 2000 We believe it would serve our mutual interests if production of fissionable materials would be halted not only by the nuclear powers but also by the nuclear threshold states We are not opposed to multilateral negotiations in this regard U COHPIBEN'fIA' L r l n r Tl 1 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2017-1_3804_ Doc No C06694502 Date 03 29 2019 CO 6 6 9 4 5 O2 IED U S Department of State Case No F-2017-13804 Doc No C06694502 Date 03 29 2019 COHFIDEN'FIAL ' - l · - - Tr i l ' -• • - • I • - 6 Where nuclear testing is concerned the position of Russia in known Boris· Nikolayevich Yeltsin has expressed it We are ready to go further that is to proceed to multilateral negotiations with the participation of the nuclear powers but involving as large a number of countries as possible - those that are on the threshold We want to ensure that ·nuclear tests by all countries are halted and that effective verification of this occurs by national technical means U President Yeltsin Thank you I would like to dwell on several other issues First our partnership relationship It will be important to develop global stability on the basis of a new svstem of international relations involving an active U S R ssian partnership That formula could be laid out in a joint document defining various aspects of our partnership Second on detargeting I suggest that we set up a delegation to proceed with bilateral discussion of an agreement on detargeting Third on the'ABM Treaty I am prepared to respond positively to your proposal on Latvia to proceed with a four-year eighteen month formula but at the same time I request that you make a statement on the rights of the Russia speaking population in Latvia C Now on ne utron-_beam weapons I understand that you are conducting laboratory tests of neutron beam weapons We should either agree to develop these weapons together or perhaps you could tell us that you are not developing them C We are for START III Our newly elected Parliament will ratify START II and we are ready to do the next step with you We must level the balance among the various branches of the strategic forces -- submarines and missiles sjlo-based mobile and advanced types We are engaged in ·a ·pace of warhead destr-u-etion that is 1000 per month We will continue along this front as we agreed with you C On testing -- we are for a Comprehensive Test Ban We are glad that the moratorium is continuing but need a greater step · Tf you and I decide then the other nucl ai powers will j6iri in his wise move C We support your initiative on the nonproliferation of missile technology and are glad to adhere t6 ih i l lirie of·th 1 - ·Missile Technology Control Regime Although we had prelimina y discussions with Iran in March 1993 e deriied Iran delivery ·of heavy water reactors I agree wit Ms 'Davis that we have · agreement about the supply of weapons· to Iran · However it is difficult·for us to revoke the contract because we would pay penalties amounting to $4 3 billion Of course we understand your view and will do our best to lessen the volume of deliveries C On biological and chemical weapons as the Minister of Defense told you everything_ you said is so We have agreed with you on CW destruction and your assistance amounting to $30 million C PAIJ PFFlPlJ'PTAT ll 11 li iIlj7 - I I _ lTl I UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2017-13804 Doc No C06694502 Date 03 29 2019 CO 6 6 9 4 5 0 2 IED U S Department of State Case No F-2017-13804 Doc No C06694502 Date 03 29 2019 f i t _ t t f l ' • _ •_ _i _ 1 7 CONPIOBN'FIAL I would in conclusion agree with you about regional problems -Iran Iraq Libya and North Korea The time has come for us to proceed to propose an initiative to reshape world institutions such as the United Nations and Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe CSCE as well as other institutions that work in the old way They do not stand up to current requirements This is a very good time to come up with a common position on this because it is the fi tieth ann versa y of the United Nations It is possible to move a very serious way I would also like to ask you to recognize the Commonwealth of Independenc States as a world institution and part of the international world structure C The President First I want to say how much I appreciate your openness and the straightforward manner in which you are discussing these matters If we are going to be friends and partners we have to talk as we are today I welcome General Grachev's statement on the BW visits We will fol-low up on· that Second with regard to the question of neutron beam research we are not developing a weapon Let us get 9ur experts together to compare notes and recommend steps to address your concerns I do not want you to be·concerned about this We will follow up with whatever steps are necessary to alleviate your concerns C President Yeltsin And then in one and the same stroke we would resolve the problem of external intelligence C The President Yes With regard to your interest in the Global Protection System we have been doing a total review of our defense policy one aspect of which is what should -be the followup to the Strategic Defense Initiative We ha v e now f i-nishe'd that review so our experts should meet and discuss what to do next with the Global Protection Syste program C On START III I think it would be appropriite to assign a group of experts to discuss this issue but i am concerne hai not go too far before we ratify START II and implement START I and II It would be useful to develop a iiamework ior discussion of START III but I don't want to get so far ahead that people are concerned that our words are outrupning our deed_s C - e President Yeltsin Nods The President On Latvia I understand-that you are not prepared to respond to our suggestion On he right 9f-the __ Russiaris there I understand that the CSCE _pas sen_t a special team to Latvia to look into the minority ri hts issue ·Perhaps we should let that team complete their work and then return to the idea Responding to comment that Yeltsin had responded favorably to timeframe suggestion Good let us pursue this approach now and as part of it I will make a statement on the rights of Russian minorities We will ontact the Latvians immediately C Mr Lobov What about recognizing the CIS U t- r r r ' Tt r r UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2017-13804 Doc No C06694502 1 eetffIBEU'FiftLt • -·•· ·- Date 03 29 2019 CO 6 6 9 4 5 0 2 1ED U S Department of State Case No F-2017-13804 Doc No C06694502 Date 03 29 2019 CONFID IJN'fHtL 8 The President To Yeltsin Since you and I have never discussed reform of the •United Nations I don't know what to say about it - but I do think it's worth looking at Let's g t our Foreign Ministers together to discuss it C President Yeltsin together · U Yes let's get our Foreign Ministers - The President For my last point I wanted to mention the positi e sign of partnership that I take from our discussions of Skrunda neutron weapons START III and GPS We need an active Russian-American partnership but we have to be careful how we characterize that relationship to the rest of the world The whole reason the United States did the Partnership for Peace was so that two powerful partners like Russia and the United States would not get together and divide Europe again If we lead 1n the proper way we have a chance to help create if not a n1ted Europ·e then an integrat ed Europe -- not divided for the first time in its history People are concerned at how America is characterizing its role We have to be careful how others look at us -- so people don't think we' e rlividing Europe We have a remarkable partnership but we have to be careful how we characterize it so that people don't think that we are carving up their countries and predetermining their futures C President Yeltsin Nodding All r-ight we shoulct go to ou_r press conference Since it was to start at 10 45 it's already underway Time 11 15 U The President Good then questions U WA don ' t have to answer many_ -- End of Conversation COHf'IDEN'J IAL UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2017-13804 Doc No C06694502 Date 03 29 2019