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the negotiation of reductions in strategic force levels.
Certain
aspects of definition and verification remain to be agreed, but
the decision to aim for an agreement in broad terms has eliminated
some of the intractable problems of trying to define the capabilities
of individual systems. Neither United States tactical nuclear
forces in Europe nor the nuclear forces of third parties will be
affected by the agreement. The British Government welcomes the
Vladivostok agreement as a step forward in the negotiations and as
a contribution of potential significance to international security.
Detailed negotiations resumed in Geneva on 31 January 1975.
Together with NATO Allies, the United Kingdom is kept informed
of progress in SALT through regular consultations with the United
States in the North Atlantic Council.
33. The US/USSR summit in Moscow in June and July 1974 also
produced significant agreements. A protocol to the Treaty on
Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems was signed, reducing to one the
number of sites in each of the two countries where such systems
may be deployed. In addition, a limit of 150 kilotons to be
effective from 31 March 1976 was agreed as the maximum yield of
underground nuclear weapons tests (the agreement does not apply
to underground nuclear explosions for peaceful purposes, which
are to be governed by an agreement to be negotiated at the
earliest possible time). The United Kingdom welcomes this
agreement and intends to support this additional new limitation
on nuclear weapons testing.
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