RUSSIAN FEDERATION
FEDERAL LAW № 56-ФЗ DATED MAY 4, 2000
“ON RATIFICATION OF THE TREATY BETWEEN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON FURTHER REDUCTION AND
LIMITATION OF STRATEGIC OFFENSIVE WEAPONS”
Adopted by the State Duma on April 14, 2000
Approved by the Council of Federation on April 19, 2000
Summary:
This law concerns the ratification of SNF-2 treaty originally signed in 1993. The treaty outlines the reduction
of warheads and heavy bombers, the protocols governing the liquidation of ICBM’s, and the associated
inspection regime.
The circumstances allowing withdrawal from the treaty, the measures required to effect such a move, and
the measures to be taken if Russian interests are endangered are also specified.
The responsibilities of the Russian President to consult and update the Federal Assembly are elaborated as
are the presidency’s responsibilities in the arena of strategic forces. The treaty details the terms on which
the limitations will be effected and the terms of compliance. The roles of the different branches of the
Russian government are specified.
Article 1
To ratify the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on Further
Reduction and Limitation of the Strategic Offensive Arms, signed in the city of Moscow on January 03, 1993,
hereinafter referred to as Treaty SNF-2, including the documents, constituting its integral part, i.e.:
Memorandum of Understanding on numbering the war heads and heavy bombers data in connection
with the Treaty Between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on Further Reduction and
Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, signed in the city of Moscow on January 03, 1993;
Protocol on the procedures governing the liquidation of the heavy intercontinental ballistic missiles
(ICBMs), governing re-equipment of the shaft launch installations of the heavy intercontinental ballistic
missiles in connection with the Treaty Between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on
Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, signed in the city of Moscow on January 03,
1993;
Protocol on demonstrations and inspections of the heavy bombers in connection with the Treaty
Between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on Further Reduction and Limitation of
Strategic Offensive Arms, signed in the city of Moscow on January 03, 1993;
Protocol to the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on Further
Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, dated January 03, 1993, signed in the city of New
York on September 26, 1997.
Article 2
The exclusive circumstances, entitling in compliance with Article VI of Treaty SNF-2 the Russian
Federation for withdrawal from this Treaty under the procedure of implementation of its State sovereignty
along with other ones include the below circumstances:
1)
Breach of Treaty SNF-2 on the part of the United States of America, capable to lead to
occurrence of a threat to the National security of the Russian Federation;
2)
Withdrawal of the United States of America from the Treaty between the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics and the United States of America on Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems, signed in
the city of Moscow on May 26 1972, hereinafter referred to as the Anti-Missile Defense Treaty, or breach of
the Anti-Missile Defense Treaty and its associated agreements;
3)
Build-up of strategic offensive arms by the States, not parties to the Treaty SNF-2 the way it
will create a threat to the national security of the Russian Federation;
4)
Adoption and implementation by the United States of America, other States or unions of
States, including the North-Atlantic Treaty Organization, of such decisions in the sphere of the military
construction, which will create a threat to the national security of the Russian Federation, including
placement of nuclear weapons in the territories of the States, which became members of the North-Atlantic
Treaty Organization after signing Treaty SNF-2;
5)
Deployment by the United States of America, other States or unions of States of the
armaments, preventing from functioning of the Russian alert system on a missile attack;
6)
Occurrence of extraordinary circumstances, including the ones of the economic or
technogenic character, making impossible the compliance of the Russian Federation with Treaty SNF-2 or
capable to lead to an occurrence of a threat to the environmental security of the Russian Federation.
Article 3
1.
At exclusive circumstances specified in Article 2 of the present Federal Law, as well as at
other exclusive circumstances, endangering the supreme interests of the Russian Federation, the President
of the Russian Federation shall:
a)
take political, diplomatic and other measures for the purposes of eliminating the exclusive
circumstances or neutralization of their consequences;
b)
Provide immediate consultations with the Chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian
Federation and with account of the results of such consultations take the decisions related to Treaty SNF-2,
including making of the proposals, envisaged with the Federal Law “On International Treaties of the Russian
Federation” as required.
2.
The Chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation in case they consider
that there have occurred the circumstances, referred to the category of the exclusive ones in the meaning of
Article VI of Treaty SNF-2, shall forward to the President of the Russian Federation a proposal on carryingout consultations or express their recommendations to the President of the Russian Federation or take other
actions, envisaged with the Federal Law “On International Treaties of the Russian Federation”.
Article 4
The President of the Russian Federation shall provide realization of the consultations with the
Chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and with account of the results of such
consultations shall take the decisions related to Treaty SNF-2, including making of the proposals, envisaged
with Section V of the Federal Law “On International Treaties of the Russian Federation” as required, in case
no new Treaty Between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on Further Reduction and
Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms is signed till December 31 2003, providing the following;
1)
maintenance and further strengthening of the strategic stability at reduced levels of the
strategic offensive arms of the Russian Federation and the United States of America;
2)
maintenance for the Russian Federation of an opportunity of the multi-variant approach to
the build of its strategic nuclear forces, including their structure and composition of armaments, providing the
National security of the Russian Federation with account of the existing economic conditions;
3)
exclusion of the opportunity of rapid build-up of the quantity of the nuclear warheads on the
carriers of all types of deployment;
4)
granting of equal rights and opportunities to the Treaty Parties at liquidation and utilization of
nuclear war heads;
5)
economically optimal use of the existing infrastructure of the strategic nuclear forces of the
Russian Federation, substantial cut of the costs on realization of the liquidation and utilization programs of
the strategic offensive arms, as well as expansion of the opportunities to use the reduced components of the
strategic nuclear forces of the Russian Federation and their infrastructure in the interests of development of
the domestic economy;
6)
Record of all types and systems of the strategic arms.
Article 5
Realization of Treaty SNF-2 shall be performed on the basis of the following:
1)
reservation of the potential of the strategic nuclear forces of the Russian Federation at the
level, necessary for providing the National security of the Russian Federation;
2)
priority financing of the strategic nuclear forces of the Russian Federation, as well as the
activities on the safe liquidation and utilization of the strategic offensive arms;
3)
observance by the United States of America of the Treaty on Reduction and Limitation of the
Strategic Offensive Arms, signed in the city of Moscow on July 31 1991, hereinafter referred to as Treaty
SNF-1;
4)
Reduction of the strategic offensive arms of the Russian Federation, falling under effect of
SNF-2 Treaty with account of their operational periods;
5)
Maintenance of the combat availability of the strategic nuclear forces of the Russian
Federation at any variants of development of the strategic situation, maintenance of the required laboratorytest base and production facilities;
6)
Assurance of safety of operation, storage, liquidation and utilization of the strategic offensive
arms;
7)
Assurance of equality of rights and opportunities of the Parties to SNF-2 in implementation of
inspections and control activities, as well as maintenance and perfection of the National technical monitoring
means of the Russian Federation over compliance by the United States of America with the Treaty SNF-1,
Treaty SNF-2 and the Treaty of Anti-Missile Defense.
Article 6
The compliance of the Russian Federation with the obligations under Treaty SNF-2 shall be
exercised with observance of the present Federal Law, as well as of other legislative and legal acts of the
Russian Federation, governing the actions and procedures, the necessity in which occurs at realization of
SNF-2.
The financial support of the strategic nuclear forces of the Russian Federation, as well as production,
operation, liquidation and utilization of the nuclear weapons shall be exercised in compliance with the
Federal laws.
Within two months after enforcement of the present Federal Law the President of the Russian
Federation shall approve the Federal program of development of the strategic nuclear forces of the Russian
Federation and forward it to the Chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
The Government of the Russian Federation within three months upon enforcement of the present
Federal Law shall work out and present to the President of the Russian Federation for approval the Federal
Target program of liquidation and utilization of weapons and equipment of the strategic nuclear forces of the
Russian Federation, providing the opportunity to use the reduced components and infrastructure in the
interests of developing the domestic economy.
Article 7
In the course of performance of Treaty SNF-2:
1.
The President of the Russian Federation shall:
a)
define the main lines of the State policy in the sphere of development of the strategic nuclear
forces of the Russian Federation and nuclear disarmament, procedure and dates of fulfilling the activities on
realization of Treaty SNF-2, providing along with this reservation of the potential of the strategic nuclear
forces of the Russian Federation and maintenance of their combat availability at the level, required for
guaranteed retention of aggression against the Russian Federation and its allies;
b)
take decisions on the dates and procedure of withdrawal out of the combat structure and
deactivation of the strategic offensive arms, subject to reduction under Treaty SNF-2, as well as on
introduction into the combat structure of new samples of the strategic offensive arms;
c)
Define the Russian conception of further international negotiations in the sphere of the
strategic offensive arms and anti-missile defense holds consultations and negotiations with the Heads of
other States for the purposes of strengthening the strategic stability and assurance of the National security of
the Russian Federation.
2.
the Government of the Russian Federation shall:
a)
provide in compliance with the Federal laws and the Federal target programs the priority
financing of the strategic nuclear forces of the Russian Federation, activities on the safe liquidation and
utilization of the strategic offensive arms, as well as the measures on performance of Treaty SNF-1 and
Treaty SNF-2;
b)
provide maintenance and development of the laboratory-test base and production facilities,
required for maintenance of the nuclear potential and combat availability of the strategic nuclear forces of the
Russian Federation;
c)
regularly forward to the Chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation the
report on condition of the strategic nuclear forces of the Russian Federation and the progress of
performance of Treaty SNF-1, Treaty SNF-2 and Anti-Missile Defense Treaty in compliance with Article 8 of
the present Federal Law;
d)
submit to the Chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation the data,
envisaged with the Memorandum of Understanding on numbering the war heads and the data on heavy
bombers in connection with Treaty SNF-2;
e)
provide effective utilization of the National technical control means over observance of the
provisions of Treaty SNF-1, Treaty SNF-2 and Anti-Missile Defense Treaty, their technical perfection, as well
as performance of the control procedures, envisaged with the mentioned Treaties;
f)
take measures on assurance of safety during operation, storage, liquidation and utilization of
the strategic offensive arms, nuclear war heads and missile fuel, as well as on exclusion of unofficial access
to the nuclear war heads;
g)
take measures on utilization of the economically viable methods and the techniques of
liquidation and utilization of the strategic offensive arms;
h)
exercise foreign-policy activities in the domain of reduction and limitation of the strategic
offensive arms and non-proliferation of nuclear arms upon commission of the President of the Russian
Federation;
i)
Invite (upon coordination) representatives of the Chambers of the Federal Assembly of the
Russian Federation to participate in consideration of the negotiation progress in the domain of reduction and
limitation of the strategic offensive arms and anti-missile defense.
3.
The Chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation shall:
a)
Participate at the annual examination of the draft Federal law on the Federal Budget of the
Russian Federation in taking of decisions on the size of financing the scientific-research and pilot-design
activities in the sphere of the strategic offensive arms, procurement of the strategic offensive arms,
construction (repair, modernization) of the main deployment facilities of the strategic nuclear arms of the
Russian Federation and their control, as well as activities on the safe liquidation and utilization of the
strategic offensive arms and the activities on performance of Treaty SNF-1 and Treaty SNF-2;
b)
Participate in drawing-up of Federal laws and the Federal Target programs, adopt Federal
laws, necessary for maintenance of the strategic nuclear forces of the Russian Federation at the level,
ensuring the National security of the Russian Federation, as well as for fulfillment of the activities in the
sphere of reduction of the nuclear arms;
c)
consider the annual report of the Government of the Russian Federation on the condition of
the strategic nuclear forces of the Russian Federation and the performance progress of Treaty SNF-1, Treaty
SNF-2 and the Anti-Missile Defense Treaty and take the appropriate decisions;
d)
Commission the Returning Chamber of the Russian Federation on carrying-out the audits of
consumption of the funds, allocated for performance of Treaty SNF-1 and Treaty SNF-2, when required;
e)
Take measures in accordance with Section V of the Federal Law “On International Treaties
of the Russian Federation” in necessary cases.
Article 8
Upon enforcement of Treaty SNF-2 no later than October 1 the Government of the Russian
Federation shall annually forward to the Chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation a
report on the condition of the strategic nuclear forces of the Russian Federation and the progress of
performance of Treaty SNF-1, Treaty SNF-2 and Anti-Missile Defense Treaty, containing the information on
the following points:
1)
changes in the composition and structure of the strategic nuclear forces of the Russian
Federation, their financial support and the results of the fulfilled work on maintenance of their potential and
operational availability;
2)
compliance of the Russian Federation and the United States of America with the obligations
under Treaty SNF-1, Treaty SNF-2 and Anti-Missile Defense Treaty;
3)
liquidation and utilization progress of the strategic offensive arms of the Russian Federation,
withdrawn out of the operational system, condition of financing the activities on performance of Treaty SNF-1
and Treaty SNF-2, including use of international assistance;
4)
environmental condition in the storage, liquidation and utilization locations of the strategic
offensive arms, first of all in the locations of the nuclear war heads and missile fuel;
5)
progress of negotiations on conclusion of new agreements in the sphere of reduction and
limitation of the strategic offensive arms, as well as in the sphere of the anti-missile defense;
6)
Condition of work in the sphere of the strategic offensive arms and anti-missile defense,
situation in the domain of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, missiles and missile technologies in the
United States of America, other States and Unions of States.
Article 9
The exchange of Deeds on ratification of Treaty SNF-2 by the Russian Federation shall be made
upon completion of the procedure on ratification of Treaty CNF-2 by the United States of America, including
the Protocol thereto, signed in the city of New York on September 26 1997, as well as the Memorandum of
Understanding in relation to the Anti-Missile Defense Treaty, signed in the city of New York on September 26
1997, the First Coordinated Declaration in relation to the Anti-Missile Defense Treaty, signed in the city of
New York on September 26 1997, the Second Coordinated Declaration in relation to the Anti-Missile
Defense Treaty, signed in the city of New York on September 26 1997, Agreement on Strengthening the
Confidence Measures in relation to the systems of fight against ballistic missiles, which are not the strategic
ballistic missiles, signed in the city of New York on September 26, 1997.
Article 10
The present Federal Law shall be effective from the date of its official publication.
Acting President
of the Russian Federation
City of Moscow, Kremlin
May 04, 2000
# 56-ФЗ
V.Putin