1. ABM Treaty
John Holum, US Senior Advisor to the President and Secretary of State for Arms Control said on March 23 that it is in Russia's interest "to avoid putting a U.S. President in a position where he has to choose between defense and the [Anti-Ballistic Missile] Treaty." He added, "We can find a third way, which is to continue the [ABM] Treaty with modest amendments to allow the defense to proceed. I think that strengthens the Treaty, because it demonstrates ... that it is not a barrier to rational adjustments dealing with new security situations."
"Transcript: U.S. Official Discusses Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty"
Ivo H. Daalder, James M. Goldgeier and James M. Lindsay argue in the Los Angeles Times that Vladimir Putin's election as the new president of Russia opens the door for US President Bill Clinton to negotiate a serious deal on deploying national missile defense (NMD). They called on Clinton to "move decisively to take advantage of this opportunity ... to revise the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty to allow for deployment."
"By Focusing Now, Clinton Can Renegotiate ABM Treaty"