ABSTRACT
The Soviets made clear that they were less interested in working out detailed verification procedures than in agreeing on a framework for reductions. In the statement the President declared that the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) arms control regime had been undermined by Soviet non-compliance. In addition he repeated his belief that the unratified SALT II treaty was "fatally flawed". In bis statement President Reagan described bis decision as going the "extra mile" towards establishing a framework of mutual restraint with the Soviet Union, and he urged the USSR to co-operate in the endeavour. The Soviet Union has stated publicly that as soon as the United States violates the SALT II agreements it would consider itself to be freed from its SALT obligations as well. The Federal Republic of Germany and France have discussed nuclear co-operation in one form or another since the 1950s.
