U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
May 31, 2002

Statement by Richard Boucher, Spokesman

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH BULGARIA ON MISSILE DESTRUCTION

The United States Government and the Government of Bulgaria today signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning missile destruction in Bulgaria.

We commend the Government of Bulgaria for undertaking this important project. It is a significant step forward in its strategic goal of joining Western security and economic structures.

Under the terms of the agreement, Bulgaria is to destroy its SS-23 and SCUD short-range ballistic missiles, and FROG rockets. The presence of these weapons represents a destabilizing factor in the region, yet they offer little military value. Bulgaria's SS-23s are the last missiles of this type known to exist anywhere in the world.

The U.S. Government will provide funding for the destruction of these missiles and rockets, using the State Department's Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund once necessary procedures are completed.

The U.S. Government and its contractor will do its utmost to safely dismantle these weapons in an environmentally sound way. The destruction program is expected to be completed before November 2002.