Remarks on Signing the
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
The President. Thank you all very
much. Welcome to the White House. This ceremony and the treaty we're signing
today are both excellent examples of the rewards of patience. It was over 6
years ago, November 18, 1981, that I first proposed what would come to be
called the zero option. It was a simple proposal -- one might say, disarmingly
simple. [Laughter] Unlike treaties in the past, it didn't simply codify the
status quo or a new arms buildup; it didn't simply talk of controlling an arms
race.
For
the first time in history, the language of ``arms control'' was replaced by
``arms reduction'' -- in this case, the complete elimination of an entire class
of
General
Secretary Gorbachev, I'm sure you're familiar with Ivan Krylov's
famous tale about the swan, the crawfish, and the pike. It seems that once upon
a time these three were trying to move a wagonload together. They hitched and
harnessed themselves to the wagon. It wasn't very heavy, but no matter how hard
they worked, the wagon just wouldn't move. You see, the swan was flying upward;
the crawfish kept crawling backward; the pike kept making for the water. The
end result was that they got nowhere, and the wagon is still there to this day.
Well, strong and fundamental moral differences continue to exist between our
nations. But today, on this vital issue, at least, we've seen what can be
accomplished when we pull together.
The
numbers alone demonstrate the value of this agreement. On the Soviet side, over
1,500 deployed warheads will be removed, and all ground-launched
intermediate-range missiles, including the SS - 20's, will be destroyed. On our
side, our entire complement of Pershing II and ground-launched cruise missiles,
with some 400 deployed warheads, will all be destroyed. Additional backup
missiles on both sides will also be destroyed.
But
the importance of this treaty transcends numbers. We have listened to the
wisdom in an old Russian maxim. And I'm sure you're
familiar with it, Mr. General Secretary, though my pronunciation may give you
difficulty. The maxim is: Dovorey no provorey -- trust, but verify.
The General Secretary. You repeat that at
every meeting. [Laughter]
The President. I like it. [Laughter]
This
agreement contains the most stringent verification regime in history, including
provisions for inspection teams actually residing in each other's territory and
several other forms of onsite inspection, as well. This treaty protects the
interests of
We
can only hope that this historymaking agreement will
not be an end in itself but the beginning of a working relationship that will
enable us to tackle the other urgent issues before us: strategic offensive
nuclear weapons, the balance of conventional forces in Europe, the destructive
and tragic regional conflicts that beset so many parts of our globe, and
respect for the human and natural rights God has granted to all men.
To
all here who have worked so hard to make this vision a reality: Thank you, and
congratulations -- above all to Ambassadors Glitman
and Obukhov. To quote another Russian proverb -- as you can see, I'm
becoming quite an expert -- [laughter] -- in Russian proverbs: ``The harvest comes more from sweat than from the dew.''
So,
I'm going to propose to General Secretary Gorbachev that we issue one last
instruction to you: Get some well-deserved rest. [Laughter]
The General Secretary. We're not going to do
that. [Laughter]
The President. Well, now, Mr. General
Secretary, would you like to say a few words before we sign the treaty?
The General Secretary. Mr. President, ladies
and gentlemen, comrades, succeeding generations will hand down their verdict on
the importance of the event which we are about to witness. But I will venture
to say that what we are going to do, the signing of the first-ever agreement
eliminating nuclear weapons, has a universal significance for mankind, both
from the standpoint of world politics and from the standpoint of humanism.
For
everyone, and above all, for our two great powers, the treaty whose text is on
this table offers a big chance at last to get onto the road leading away from
the threat of catastrophe. It is our duty to take full advantage of that chance
and move together toward a nuclear-free world, which holds out for our children
and grandchildren and for their children and grandchildren the promise of a
fulfilling and happy life without fear and without a senseless waste of
resources on weapons of destruction.
We
can be proud of planting this sapling, which may one day grow into a mighty
tree of peace. But it is probably still too early to bestow laurels upon each
other. As the great American poet and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson said: ``The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.''
So,
let us reward ourselves by getting down to business. We have covered a
7-year-long road, replete with intense work and debate. One last step towards
this table, and the treaty will be signed.
May
Note: The President
spoke at