AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE UNION
OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS TO EXPAND THE U.S.-USSR DIRECT
COMMUNICATIONS LINK
Signed at Washington July 17, 1984
Entered into force July 17, 1984
The Department of State, referring to the Memorandum of Understanding between the United
States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics regarding the Establishment of a
Direct Communications Link, signed June 20, 1963; to the Agreement on Measures to Improve
the Direct Communications Link, signed September 30, 1971; and to the exchange of views
between the two parties in Moscow and Washington during which it was deemed desirable to
arrange for facsimile communication in addition to the current teletype Direct Communications
Link, proposes that for this purpose the parties shall:
1. Establish and maintain three transmission links employing INTELSAT and STATSIONAR
satellites and cable technology with secure orderwire circuit for operational monitoring. In this
regard:
(a) Each party shall provide communications circuits capable of simultaneously transmitting and
receiving 4800 bits per second.
(b) Operation of facsimile communication shall begin with the test operation over the INTELSAT
satellite channel as soon as development, procurement and delivery of the necessary equipment by
the sides are completed.
(c) Facsimile communication via STATSIONAR shall be established after transition of the Direct
Communications Link teletype circuit from MOLNIYA to STATSIONAR using mutually
agreeable transition procedures and after successful tests of facsimile communication via
INTELSAT and cable.
2. Employ agreed-upon information security devices to assure secure transmission of facsimile
materials. In this regard:
(a) The information security devices shall consist of microprocessors that will combine the digital
facsimile output with buffered random data read from standard 5 inch floppy disks. The
American side shall provide a specification describing the key data format and necessary keying
material resident on a floppy disk for both parties until such time as the Soviet side develops this
capability. Beyond that time, each party shall provide necessary keying material to the other.
(b) The American side shall provide to the Soviet side the floppy disk drives integral to the
operation of the microprocessor.
(c) The necessary security devices as well as spare parts for the said equipment shall be provided
by the American side to the Soviet side in return for payment of costs thereof by the Soviet side.
3. Establish and maintain at each operating end of the Direct Communications Link facsimile
terminals of the same make and model. In this regard:
(a) Each party shall be responsible for the acquisition, installation, operation and maintenance of
its own facsimile machines, the related information security devices, and local transmission
circuits appropriate to the implementation of this understanding, except as otherwise specified.
(b) A Group III facsimile unit which meets CCITT Recommendations T.4 and T.30 and operates
at 4800 bits per second shall be used for this purpose.
(c) The necessary facsimile equipment as well as spare parts for the said equipment shall be
provided to the Soviet side by the American side in return for payment of costs thereof by the
Soviet side.
4. Establish and maintain secure orderwire communications necessary for coordination of
facsimile operation. In this regard:
(a) The orderwire terminals used with the information security devices described in Paragraph
2(a) shall incorporate standard USSR Cyrillic and United States Latin keyboards and cathode ray
tube displays to permit telegraphic exchange of information between operators. The specific
layout of the Cyrillic keyboard shall be as specified by the Soviet side.
(b) To coordinate the work of the facsimile equipment operators, an orderwire shall be configured
so as to permit, prior to the transmission and reception of facsimile messages, the exchange of all
information pertinent to the coordination of such messages.
(c) Orderwire messages concerning facsimile transmissions shall be encoded using the same
information security devices specified in Paragraph 2(a).
(d) The orderwire shall use the same modem and communications link as used for facsimile
transmission.
(e) A printer shall be included to provide a record copy of all information exchanged on the
orderwire.
(f) The necessary orderwire equipment as well as spare parts for the said equipment shall be
provided by the American side to the Soviet side, in return for payment of costs thereof by the
Soviet side.
5. Ensure the exchange of information necessary for the operation and maintenance of the
facsimile system.
6. Take all possible measures to assure the continuous, secure and reliable operation of the
facsimile equipment, information security devices and communications links including orderwire,
for which each party is responsible in accordance with this agreement.
The Department of State also proposes that the parties, in consideration of the continuing
advances in information and communications technology, conduct reviews as necessary regarding
questions concerning improvement of the Direct Communications Link and its technical
maintenance.
It is also proposed to note that the Memorandum of Understanding between the United States of
America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics regarding the Establishment of a Direct
Communications Link, signed on June 20, 1963, with the Annex thereto; the Agreement between
the United States of America and the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics on Measures to
Improve the Direct Communications Link, with the Annex thereto, signed on September 30,
1971; those Understandings, with Attached Annexes, reached between the United States and
Union of Soviet Republics, Shall constitute an agreement, effective on the date of the Embassy's
reply.
Kenneth W. Dean
Department of State,
Washington, July 17, 1984
_________________
1 Note: Soviet Charge d' affaires Isakov initialed the Soviet diplomatic note and the notes were
exchanged on July 17, 1984.