The leader of the Yabloko Association Grigory Yavlinsky proposed holding negotiations according to the “4+1” formula between the USA, Russia, Great Britain and China to achieve “some improvement” in the ABM Treaty of 1972. This proposal is contained in the Memorandum of Grigory Yavlinsky made for participants of the Tripartite Commission conference in London (a non-governmental forum uniting famous politicians and businessmen) on March 11, 2001.

The document states that the participants of the “4+1” meeting should accurately determine mutual restrictions regarding the European non-strategic ABM system proposed by Russia and the national ABM system planned by the USA.

According to Yavlinsky, after ascertaining “what we want for the future”, the participants should seriously discuss the present situation of the strategic balance. Consequently Yavlinsky drew attention to the fact that Russia had adopted a decision to implement far-reaching reforms of its military forces, including the strategic component, and to the announcement by the Russian President of Moscow’s readiness to reduce the number of nuclear war-heads to 1,500, provided that the USA agrees to do the same.

Based on RIA-Novosti reports.

See also:

Russia's ABM Initiatives

Grigory Yavlinsky: Russia and Europe should create a joint ABM system while cooperating here with NATO and the USA
Press Release, 12.02.01