Statement of Senator Carl Levin on the US-Russian Summit

WASHINGTON – Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., the senior Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement today:

President Clinton and President Putin concluded two important agreements, one that will reduce the risk of nuclear proliferation, and one that will enhance strategic stability and mutual confidence. I am pleased that the Presidents will continue to work in the coming months to search for a solution on the issues of modifying the ABM Treaty to permit a limited defense against the emerging missile threat and on further reductions in strategic nuclear weapons under a START III Treaty.

It is also significant that both sides have agreed that there is an increasing threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including an emerging ballistic missile threat, and that there is a need to address this threat on the basis of mutual cooperation and mutual security.