Today's Date:

As permanent members of the Security Council, France and the Russian Federation have a special responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. They express their resolve to act both bilaterally and multilaterally in order to contribute to strategic stability. They intend to give substance to the strategic partnership between Russia and the European Union established at the Paris Summit on 30 October 2000, particularly by stepping up their dialogue and cooperation on security and conflict prevention.

France and Russia deem it essential to guarantee international strategic balances in the new context resulting from the end of the Cold War. The instruments for these balances currently exist. To take greater account of the new strategic context and particularly of the emergence of multipolarity, care should be taken to ensure that these are not replaced by a non-binding system which would open the way to renewed competition. They consider that, in defining the conditions for strategic stability, nuclear deterrence based upon the principle of sufficiency is still wholly relevant.

They consider that the disarmament treaties - including nuclear disarmament - and multinational non-proliferation regimes remain indispensable. The obligations they include and controls they provide for help promote confidence.

France and the Russian Federation attach special importance to preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.

In the nuclear field, the Non-Proliferation Treaty is an essential instrument of stability. Its provisions must be observed. The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty must enter into force as soon as possible. Negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty must open without delay at the Disarmament Conference.

France and Russia are pleased with their cooperation in the dismantling of Russian nuclear weapons and elimination and management of the Russian plutonium surplus to defence needs. The two countries will encourage development of international cooperation on this subject, particularly in the G8 framework.

France and the Russian Federation consider that the conventions prohibiting the production, use and stockpiling of chemical weapons are international instruments which must be complied with and universalized. The adoption of a verification protocol to the convention prohibiting biological weapons is needed to strengthen this instrument. Pending its conclusion, transparency measures are necessary. The destruction of chemical weapons stocks must be pursued by States possessing them. Biological weapons must be totally eliminated

France and the Russian Federation are determined to pursue their efforts to prevent the proliferation of ballistic missiles. They stress the need for the strict application of national export control policies.

In this context, France and the Russian Federation welcome the initiatives already taken to improve the instruments to prevent ballistic proliferation, particularly the global monitoring system and the draft code of conduct proposed by the members of the MTCR. Consultations with States which are not members of the Regime with a view to universalizing the Code of Conduct must be pursued. France and the Russian Federation consider it opportune to hold, at the appropriate moment, an international conference on this subject. France and the Russian Federation will contribute to the work of the United Nations Group of Experts on missiles.

France and the Russian Federation reaffirm that the international efforts to prevent an arms race in space are essential.

France and the Russian Federation will continue to cooperate closely and hold regular consultations at the appropriate levels on all these matters./.