Getting to Zero Update28 July 2009http://www.basicint.org/about.htmPlease note, BASIC and Crisis Action have a bi-weekly update devoted solely to diplomatic developments related to Iran's nuclear program, which may be found at the following web address: www.basicint.org/update/iran.htm.Previous editions of BASIC's GTZ Update are available here.To subscribe or unsubscribe from this update, please visit the following page: www.basicint.org/contacts/index.php.IN THIS ISSUE:* BASIC and Getting to Zero (GTZ)* Commitments to Disarmament and Arms Control* Country Reportso United Stateso United Kingdomo Irano North Koreao Russiao Indiao Pakistan* Missile Defense* Additional PublicationsBASIC and Getting to Zero (GTZ)BASIC is delighted to announce the appointment of its new Program Director in Washington, Anne Penketh. She has a distinguished career as an international journalist, and was most recently Diplomatic Editor of The Independent (London). Anne began her reporting on nuclear weapons issues at the Geneva and Reykjavik Summits in 1985-6 between Presidents Reagan and Gorbachev. In recent years she has continued to work on disarmament and non-proliferation issues, including covering diplomatic maneuvers at the United Nations over Iran's nuclear program. Anne will start in August. For more information, please see BASIC's Media Advisory.Nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament were on the agenda of both the G8 Summit meeting in L'Aquila, Italy and the U.S.-Russia Summit in Moscow. Two weeks later, U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown released his Road to 2010 report on nuclear energy and weapons, which was quickly followed by private briefings indicating that the design contract for the Trident nuclear weapons submarine system would be delayed until after the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in May 2010. See these BASIC publications and Update sections below for more information.* The UK Government's Road to 2010 —much to welcome— but still looking underdeveloped in key areasPaul Ingram, BASIC Media Advisory, July 16, 2009http://www.basicint.org/pubs/Press/090716.htm* The START follow-on negotiations: Russians focus on delivery vehiclesJonathan McLaughlin, BASIC Getting to Zero Papers, No. 14, July 1, 2009http://www.basicint.org/gtz/gtz14.htm* The Shadow NATO Summit: Options for NATO - pressing the reset button on the strategic conceptJoint report by BASIC, ISIS-Europe, Bertelsmann Stiftung and NATO Watch, on inaugural Shadow NATO Summit of 31 March - 1 April 2009, posted 23 July 2009.http://www.basicint.org/pubs/natoshadow.pdfVisit the GTZ Blog.Commitments to Disarmament and Arms ControlObama and Medvedev sign agreement on the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) follow-onAfter months of preparations, U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Moscow on July 6 for a two-day summit with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev. The "reset" summit included both leaders signing a Joint Understanding for the START Follow-on Treaty, which commits the two nations to an agreement that will reduce the number of strategic nuclear warheads and delivery vehicles to a range of 1,500-1,675, and 500-1,100 respectively. Negotiating delegations are led by Rose Gottemoeller, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, and Anatoly Antonov, Russia's Chief of Security and Disarmament Issues. The 1991 START agreement, which expires on December 5, allows for a total of 6,000 warheads on 1,600 strategic delivery vehicles, and the 2002 Moscow Treaty - Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT) - set limits between 1,700-2,200 operationally deployed strategic warheads by 2012, but without verification. U.S. and Russian negotiators met again on July 22 and 23. Reports from Geneva were positive, but had few details.G-8 Summit in L'AquilaLeaders at the Group of Eight (G8) Summit in L'Aquila, Italy (8-10 July) issued a statement on non-proliferation which declared, "We are all committed to seeking a safer world for all and to creating the conditions for a world without nuclear weapons, in accordance with the goals of the NPT." The leaders supported U.S. President Obama's desire to seek ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), and called for bringing the treaty into force. The statement urged Iran to engage diplomatically with the international community, and sharply criticized the May nuclear test in North Korea. At the G8 Summit, U.S. President Obama presented his plan to host a Global Nuclear Security Summit on March 9 and 10, 2010, which would provide a platform for multilateral discussion on such issues as cooperatively combating international nuclear smuggling and nuclear terrorism.IAEA selects new chiefOn July 2, Yukiya Amano was selected by the IAEA Board of Governors to be the next Secretary-General. He replaces Mohamed ElBaradei, whose term will end in November 2009. Amano has been the favored pick of the United States and Europe, and will be the first East Asian to serve as Director General of the IAEA. The alternative candidate, South Africa's Abdul Samad Minty, was supported by the representatives of countries of the developing world who perceive tighter non-proliferation rules as undue limitations to their development of peaceful nuclear energy whilst nuclear weapon states avoid their own responsibilities to disarm. After the election, Amano asked for the "solidarity of all the member states," and assured developing countries that the IAEA is not just a "nuclear watchdog."Further Reading* Test Ban Monitoring: No Place to Hide (Summary - full article requires subscription)Daniel Cleary, Science, Vol. 325, no. 5939, pp. 382-385, July 24, 2009http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/325/5939/382* Talking About Nuclear Weapons Policy: Lessons from Recent Public Opinion and Messaging ResearchU.S. in the World (USITW) presentation, summary and link to report available on the website of the Connect U.S. Fund, July 2009http://www.connectusfund.org/resources/talking-about-nuclear-weapons-policy-lessons-recent-public-opinion-and-messaging-research* Rebutting the standard arguments against disarmamentGeorge Perkovich and James M. Acton, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, July 15, 2009http://www.thebulletin.org/web-edition/op-eds/rebutting-the-standard-arguments-against-disarmament* A Flash of MemoryIssey Miyake, The New York Times, July 13, 2009http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/14/opinion/14miyake.html?_r=1&th&emc=th* Plumage—But at a PriceCharles Krauthammer, The Washington Post, July 9, 2009http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/09/AR2009070902363.html?hpid=opinionsbox1* START Follow-On: What SORT of Agreement?Hans M. Kristensen, FAS Strategic Security Blog, July 8, 2009http://www.fas.org/blog/ssp/2009/07/start.php* Addressing the Nuclear Threat: Fulfilling the Promise of Prague at the L'Aquila SummitWhite House, Office of the Press Secretary July 8, 2009http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Addressing-the-Nuclear-Threat-Fulfilling-the-Promise-of-Prague-at-the-LAquila-Summit/* L'Aquila Statement on Non-ProliferationG-8 Summit July 8, 2009http://www.g8italia2009.it/static/G8_Allegato/2._LAquila_Statent_on_Non_proliferation,0.pdf* Joint Understanding, Obama-Medvedev SummitWhite House, Office of the Press Secretary July 8, 2009http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/The-Joint-Understanding-for-The-START-Follow-On-Treaty/* Nuclear powers come in from the coldRebecca Johnson, Comment is Free, The Guardian, July 7, 2009 http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/07/nuclear-powers-us-russia* US and Russia agree nuclear disarmament road mapLuke Harding and Julian Borger, The Guardian, July 6, 2009http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/06/obama-medvedev-nuclear-weapons-disarmament* A Chance for a Nuclear-Free WorldJames F. Collins and Jack Matlock, Foreign Policy, July 6, 2009http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/07/06/a_chance_for_a_nuclear_free_world* Serbia, IAEA sign additional protocol on non-proliferation of nuclear weaponsChina View, July 4, 2009http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-07/04/content_11649540.htm* Global Zero Action PlanJune 29, 2009http://www.globalzero.org/files/pdf/gzap_3.0.pdfCountry ReportsUnited StatesObama's commitment to nuclear disarmamentU.S. President Barack Obama continues to show a serious commitment to nuclear disarmament, and has repeatedly focused on issues of arms control in his communications. Analysts have gone so far as to suggest that arms control is a fundamental part of his Presidential strategy, and that it is part of an emerging "Obama Doctrine." The New York Times ran a major story on Obama's activism as a senior at Columbia University in 1983 on issues of nuclear disarmament, and argued that Obama has long been committed to a world without nuclear weapons.Clinton says she considers disarmament a priorityAt a presentation at the Council on Foreign Relations, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, "We want to reverse the spread of nuclear weapons, prevent their use, and build a world free of their threat." Clinton reiterated that the United States stands ready to engage diplomatically with Iran, although she said that opportunity will not last forever, and also affirmed that the United States was pursuing "complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." (See more information below on the latest reports from Iran and North Korea.)Further Reading* Influential Republicans Could Throw Weight Behind CTBTGlobal Security Newswire, July 27, 2009http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20090727_1871.php* Senate warns against concessions on nuclear treatyJim Abrams, The Associated Press, via Seattle Times, July 27, 2009http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2009543802_apusnucleartreaty.html?syndication=rss* A Guide to the Challenges Facing President Obama's Nuclear Abolition AgendaBurgess Laird, Carnegie Council on Ethics in International Affairs, July 21, 2009http://www.cceia.org/resources/articles_papers_reports/0025.html* The Donald ReportBlog entry provides link to large report:Investigation into the Shipment of Sensitive Missile Components to Taiwan(report posted on the site of the New America Foundation)Jeffrey Lewis, Arms Control Wonk.com, July 21, 2009http://www.armscontrolwonk.com/2394/donald-report* Obama Puts Arms Control at the Core of New StrategyPeter Spiegel, The Wall Street Journal, July 15, 2009http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124761759094642419.html* It is Important to Get Nuclear Weapons Policy RightLawrence Eagleburger, The Wall Street Journal, July 15, 2009 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124762192770242767.html* Obama's Weapons Policy is SensibleWilliam D. Hartung, The Wall Street Journal, July 14, 2009http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124753205977636027.html* Russian nuclear agreement a good startSenator Dianne Feinstein, San Francisco Chronicle, July 10, 2009http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/10/EDNI18LBEP.DTL* An Obama Doctrine Emerges in MoscowJoe Cirincione, Huffington Post, July 8, 2009http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-cirincione/an-obama-doctrine-emerges_b_227905.html* Obama's Big Missile TestPhilip Taubman, The New York Times, July 8, 2009http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/09/opinion/09taubman.html?th&emc=th* Arms Control AmnesiaKeith B. Payne, The Wall Street Journal, July 8, 2009http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124693303362103841.html* Defending U.S. Leadership on DisarmamentJames Acton, Pierre Goldschmidt, George Perkovich, Proliferation Analysis,Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, July 7, 2009 http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=23354&prog=zgp&proj=znpp* Russia Presents Test for ObamaMichael A. Fletcher and Philip P. Pan, The Washington Post, July 5, 2009http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/04/AR2009070402115.html* Obama's Youth Shaped His Nuclear-Free VisionWilliam J. Broad and David E. Sanger, The New York Times, July 4, 2009http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/world/05nuclear.html?th&emc=th* U.S. nuclear warheads, 1945-2009Robert S. Norris and Hans M. Kristensen, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, July/August, 2009http://thebulletin.metapress.com/content/213757w058n98374/fulltext.pdf* Our Decaying Nuclear DeterrentJon Kyl and Richard Perle, The Wall Street Journal, June 30, 2009 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124623202363966157.html* Funding for U.S. Efforts to Improve Controls Over Nuclear Weapons, Materials, and Expertise Overseas: A 2009 UpdateAndrew Newman and Matthew Bunn, Report, Managing the Atom Project, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, June 2009http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/world/05nuclear.html?th&emc=thUnited KingdomRoad to 2010The Cabinet Office released the cross-department report, The Road to 2010: Addressing the nuclear question in the 21st century, with proposals to smooth the route to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in May of 2010, highlighting in particular the importance of civil nuclear power programs. The report announced the creation of a ?20 million Nuclear Centre of Excellence in the United Kingdom that would develop proliferation-resistant nuclear technologies, a meeting of major donors to discuss the future funding and capabilities of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and recommitment to hosting a Nuclear Weapons States conference in September. For more information, also see BASIC's analysis of the Road to 2010 report.Government officials signal Trident delayLater on the same day, British officials indicated explicitly the government's intention to delay signing off on design contracts for the Trident nuclear system replacement until after the NPT Review Conference in May 2010 —a signal of the importance the U.K. government attaches to its success. This "initial gate" phase was scheduled to happen this fall. The following morning a government spokesperson said that the timetable for the project remains unchanged. Analysts speculated this was possible as the timetable had always included significant flexibility within it. The move to delay may have reflected concerns about tight defense budgets and the looming General Election.Poll shows public support waning for TridentJust before the release of the Road to 2010 report and news about a delay for Trident replacement, The Guardian published the results of its poll with ICM that showed 54% of U.K. voters were against renewing the U.K. system, and 42% were in favour. The results are in contrast to findings from two years ago that had 39% opposing and 51% in favour.Further Reading* Sense on TridentFinancial Times, July 19, 2009http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/17c3aa72-748b-11de-8ad5-00144feabdc0.html* Gordon Brown delays Trident workThe Telegraph, July 17, 2009http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/5844275/Gordon-Brown-delays-Trident-work.html* Trident poll: Disarming opinionsEditorial, Comment is Free, The Guardian, July 14, 2009http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/14/editorial-trident-nuclear-poll* Voters want Britain to scrap all nuclear weapons, ICM poll showsJulian Glover, The Guardian, July 13, 2009http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jul/13/icm-poll-nuclear-weapons* U.K. Willing to Reduce Nuclear Arsenal, Brown SaysGlobal Security Newswire, July 10, 2009http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20090710_1911.php* Talks could lead to cut in UK's nuclear stockpile, says Gordon BrownPatrick Wintour, Larry Elliot and Julian Borger, The Guardian, July 9, 2009http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/09/britain-nuclear-stockpile-summit-obama* The Road to 2010: Addressing the nuclear question in the twenty first centuryPresented to Parliament by the Prime Minister, Cabinet Office, July, 2009http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/224864/roadto2010.pdf* Shared Responsibilities: A national security strategy for the UK (Executive Summary available)Ippr Commission on National Security in the 21st Century, June 30, 2009 http://www.ippr.org.uk/publicationsandreports/publication.asp?id=676* Experts urge government to reassess Trident decisionDeborah Summers, The Guardian, June 30, 2009http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jun/30/trident-nuclear-disarmamentIranUncertainty over future of P5+1 talks with IranThe continued post-election crisis in Iran has thrown the future of multilateral negotiations on Iran's nuclear program into doubt. The United States and the European Union have pledged to continue to pursue diplomatic engagement on the issue of Iran's nuclear program. Leaders at the G8 summit in L'Aquila, Italy issued a joint statement reiterating their commitment to a diplomatic solution with Iran and strongly encouraging Tehran to comply with U.N. Security Council resolutions and to cooperate with the IAEA. In an apparent reaction to the G8 focus on Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had announced on July 13 that Tehran was preparing a political package to present to the west.On July 16, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Gholam Reza Aghazedeh, resigned. Although the reasons for the resignation are not entirely clear, Aghazedeh had been a long-time supporter of opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi and former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appointed Ali Akbar Salehi, former Iranian envoy to the IAEA, to be the new head of Iran's nuclear energy agency. In Salehi's first public announcement, he declared that the West needs to close the case on Iran's nuclear activity.Clinton's remarks on Iran spark Israeli concernSpeaking in Phuket, Thailand on July 22, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned that if Iran pursues a nuclear weapons program, then the United States may extend a "defense umbrella" over allies in the Middle East, and said that "... it's unlikely that Iran will be any stronger or safer, because they won't be able to intimidate and dominate, as they apparently believe they can, once they have a nuclear weapon." Dan Meridor, Israel's minister of intelligence and atomic energy, reacted negatively to the comments, which he saw as suggesting that the United States has already accepted a nuclear-armed Iran. Clinton subsequently sought to dispel this notion, saying that she was simply reminding Iran that pursuing nuclear weapons would lead to a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. On July 26, Clinton warned Iranian leaders that any search for a nuclear weapon capability would be futile and that Obama's administration would not allow Iran to produce its own nuclear fuel, even under safeguards. On a visit to Tel Aviv a day later, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates again reassured Israel that the United States was not about to compromise with Iran.Further Reading* U.S. Juggles Two Iran TimetablesGerald F. Seib, The Wall Street Journal, July 21, 2009http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124813286163066807.html* Iran's crisis has nuclear falloutMeir Javedanfar, The Guardian: Comment is Free, July 19, 2009http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/19/iran-nuclear-programme* Mixed Feelings: The Arabs' View of IranThe Economist, July 16, 2009http://www.economist.com/world/mideast-africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14045302* 10 WeeksEditorial, The New York Times, July 10, 2009http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/11/opinion/11sat3.html?_r=1&th&emc=th* How Iran Could Save the Middle EastJeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic, July/August 2009http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200907/israel-sunni* What if Iran Got the Bomb?Robert Farley, Foreign Policy, July 7, 2009http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/07/07/what_if_iran_got_the_bombNorth KoreaNorth Korea launches more missiles, refuses resumption of talksIn defiance of U.N. sanctions, North Korea conducted more missile tests in early July. In response to these recent actions and the May 25th nuclear test, the U.N. Security Council expanded its sanctions against the country. New targets of sanctions include North Korea's General Bureau of Atomic Energy, trading companies, and individuals involved in the nuclear program, associated businesses and also weapons-related materials.During her visit to Thailand for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum on July 22, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for a revival of the Six-Party Talks and urged ASEAN members to enforce the U.N. sanctions imposed against North Korea. Clinton said that the United States would be willing to offer North Korea a "comprehensive package" should it choose to denuclearize. She also mentioned concerns over the possibility that North Korea might be sharing nuclear technology with Myanmar (Burma). According to Japan's Kyodo News Agency, North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations, Sin Son Ho, said that Pyongyang would be willing to engage in direct dialogue with Washington, but rejected the possibility of agreeing to any package deals that would involve the resumption of North Korea's participation in the Six-Party Talks.Further Reading* North Korean Missiles Defy U.N. ResolutionEvan Ramstad, The Wall Street Journal, July 6, 2009http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124677863900195703.html?mod=googlenews_wsj* Ending North Korea's Nuclear Ambitions: The Need for Stronger Chinese ActionHui Zhang, Arms Control Today, July/August, 2009http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2009_07-08/zhang* Don't Play Nuclear Chicken with a Desperate PariahHui Zhang, Foreign Policy, June 2009http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=5020RussiaBulava missile tests fail againWhile the world was paying close attention to the Obama-Medvedev summit and the resulting commitments to a START follow-on treaty, Russia's Navy conducted successful tests of two submarine-launched Sineva-type ballistic missiles and another failed test of the new, nuclear-capable submarine-launched Bulava missile, which led to the resignation of the missile's design team leader. The Bulava missile is an upgraded design of the land-based Topol M, and is designed to both survive a nuclear attack and penetrate anti-missile defense systems. Despite 6 out of 11 launches of the Bulava ending in failure, Vice Admiral Oleg Burtsev of the Russian Navy stated, "We are committed to this missile flying." Since its commissioning in 1998, a great deal of domestic political capital has been invested in the Bulava, promoted by Mr. Putin as the new core of Russia's modernized nuclear forces.The first Borey-class strategic nuclear submarine Yury Dolgoruky, designed to carry 16 Bulavas, completed its initial sea trials with more later in the year. Two more Borey class nuclear submarines, the Alexander Nevsky and the Vladimir Monomakh, are still under construction. Russia plans to have eight by 2015.Further Reading* Russian Weapon Is in Need of RescueMichael Schwirtz, The New York Times, July 15, 2009http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/16/world/europe/16missile.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=bulava&st=cse* Analysis: US, Russia have different views on nukesRobert Burns, Associated Press, July 6, 2009http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gjji-FgUACu8zwhs2JFUzNrjpN0AD9996A700* After the Reset: A Strategy and New Agenda for U.S. Russia PolicySamuel Charap, Laura Conley, Peter Juul, Andrew Light, Julian L. Wong,Center for American Progress, July 2, 2009http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/07/after_reset.htmlIndiaU.S.-India nuclear dealDuring her mid-July visit to India, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced key agreements that will broaden cooperation between the two countries under the bilateral nuclear deal. Officials agreed on two sites for U.S. nuclear reactors. India will also purchase advanced U.S. conventional weapon systems, including fighter jets, raising concerns over the impact on the strategic balance with Pakistan.On July 26, India ran a sea trial of its first domestically-produced nuclear-powered submarine, capable of launching nuclear ballistic missiles. The submarine is due for at least two years of testing before becoming operational. India would become the sixth country, after the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and China, to make nuclear-powered submarines.Further Reading* Obama jeopardizing nuclear deal with IndiaHarsh V. Pant, special to The Japan Times (editorial), July 25, 2009 http://search.japantimes.co.jp/rss/eo20090725a1.html* Toward a Nuclear Freeze in South AsiaDaryl G. Kimball, Arms Control Today, July/August, 2009http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2009_07-08/focusPakistanFrench visit to Pakistan raises expectations for nuclear cooperationThe recent July visit of French Minister for Foreign Trade, Anne Marie Idrac, had raised expectations that France was going to strike a large civilian nuclear energy deal with Pakistan. Back in May, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmoud Qureshi, had said that France was going to agree to an arrangement like the one struck between India and the United States. However, Idrac said on July 23 during a press conference in Islamabad that France would not establish a new nuclear reactor in the country and that any aid related to nuclear energy would be for securing and enhancing the safety of Pakistan's existing nuclear sites. France did agree to provide other types of assistance, including high technology military gear and weapons, such as combat helicopters.Further Reading* The deal that wasn'tDAWN Editorial, July 25, 2009http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/14-the-deal-that-wasnt-zj-01* Nuclear Security in Pakistan: Reducing the Risks of Nuclear TerrorismRolf Mowatt-Larssen, Arms Control Today, July/August, 2009http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2009_07-08/Mowatt-Larssen* Nuclear Security in Pakistan: Separating Myth From RealityFeroz Hassan Khan, Arms Control Today, July/August, 2009http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2009_07-08/khanMissile DefenseU.S. missile defense in Eastern European sites were seen to be a principal sticking point in START follow-on negotiations prior to the Obama-Medvedev summit on July 6. At the summit press conference, Obama stated, "I believe that it is entirely legitimate for our discussions to talk not only about offensive weapon systems but also defensive weapon systems." The United States plans to finish its review of European missile defense by the end of the summer. Obama and Medvedev agreed on a special Joint Statement on "Missile Defense Issues," which iterated their commitment to seek out ways of cooperation on dealing with ballistic missile proliferation. The statement also noted that experts are again discussing the establishment of the Joint Data Exchange Center (JDEC), a project which has languished since the initial Russian-American memorandum of 2000 on the Center's establishment.After the Obama-Medvedev summit, 22 intellectuals and former leaders of Central and Eastern Europe published an "open letter" to President Obama in the Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza. The authors of the July 15th letter, who include Lech Walesa and Vaclav Havel, believe there remains a real threat from Russia. They assert that the project has become "a symbol of America's credibility and commitment to the region." The letter urges President Obama and NATO not to make decisions based on "unfounded Russian opposition."Further Reading* Bargaining Chip or Gas Mask: Prospects for Missile DefenseJohn Isaacs and Travis Sharp, Carnegie Council on Ethics in International Affairs, July 21, 2009 http://www.cceia.org/resources/articles_papers_reports/0023.html* An Open Letter to the Obama Administration from Central and Eastern EuropeValdas Adamkus, Martin Butora, Emil Constantinescu, Pavol Demes, Lubos Dobrovsky, Matyas Eorsi, Istvan Gyarmati, Vaclav Havel, Rastislav Kacer, Sandra Kalniete, Karel Schwarzenberh, Michal Kovac, Ivan Krastev, Alexander Kwasniewski, Mart Laar, Kadri Liik, Janos Martonyi, Janusz Onyszkiewicz, Adam Rotfeld, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Alexandr Vondra, Lech Walesa, Gazeta Wunprcza, July 15, 2009http://wyborcza.pl/1,82049,6825987,An_Open_Letter_to_the_Obama_Administration_from_Central.html* Offense-Defense NonsensePeter Scoblic, The New Republic, July 12, 2009http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=10f6ba29-e1d4-4394-887c-9013b872abc6* Joint Statement by Dmitry A. Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation, and Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, on Missile Defense IssuesWhite House Press Office, July 6, 2009http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Joint-Statement-by-Dmitry-A-Medvedev-President-of-the-Russian-Federation-and-Barack-Obama-President-of-the-United-States-of-America-on-Missile-Defense-Issues/* Joint Statement on Missile Defense IssuesJoshua Pollack, Arms Control Wonk.com, July 6, 2009http://www.armscontrolwonk.com/2380/joint-statement-on-missile-defense-issuesAdditional Publications* Taking control of nuclearMohamed ElBaradei, The New York Times, July 19, 2009http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/jul/19/nuclear-technology-fuel-cycle* How to dismantle a nuclear bombBBC News, July 16, 2009http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8154029.stm* The long, hard road to nuclear safetyBryan Bender, The Boston Globe, July 5, 2009http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2009/07/05/the_long_hard_road_to_nuclear_safety/?page=1* Four Emerging Issues in Arms Control, Disarmament, and Nonproliferation:Opportunities for German LeadershipDennis M. Gormley, Patricia M. Lewis, Miles A. Pomper, Lawrence Scheinman, Stephen Schwartz, Nikolai Sokov, Leonard S. Spector, report Prepared for the Policy Planning Staff, Foreign Office, Federal Republic of Germany, The James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, July 2009 http://cns.miis.edu/opapers/090717_german_leadership/german_leadership_full.pdfPlease forward this email to individuals and organizations offering them the opportunity to subscribe to BASIC's Getting to Zero Update. This will help to keep them informed about the latest developments and analysis.To subscribe or unsubscribe from this update, please visit the following page: www.basicint.org/contacts/index.php. Thank you.BASIC's work is made possible by the generous support of our donors: the Ploughshares Fund, the Ford Foundation, the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation, Rockefeller Family & Associates, and individual contributors to BASIC. We are grateful to all of them for their support.
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