A/RES/53/77 Page 44 Appreciating the joint statement on future reductions in nuclear forces and the joint statement outlining the elements of an agreement for higher-velocity theatre missile defence systems, both issued on 21 March 1997 by the Russian Federation and the United States of America,66 as well as their joint statement of 10 May 1995 in connection with the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems,67 Welcoming the joint statement issued at Helsinki on 21 March 1997,66 in which the Presidents of the Russian Federation and the United States of America reached an understanding that, after the entry into force of START II, their two countries would immediately commence negotiations on a START III agreement, which would include the establishment, by 31 December 2007, of lower aggregate levels of 2,000 to 2,500 deployed warheads, Noting with satisfaction the Protocol to START II, the Joint Agreed Statement, and the Letters on Early Deactivation, agreed to by the Russian Federation and the United States of America in New York on 26 September 1997, which are intended to be taken as further concrete steps to reduce the nuclear danger and strengthen international stability and nuclear safety, Welcoming the signing on 26 September 1997 by Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States of America of a number of significant agreements that contribute to ensuring the viability of the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems, Welcoming the significant reductions made by some of the other nuclear-weapon States, and encouraging all nuclear-weapon States to consider appropriate measures relating to nuclear disarmament, 1. Welcomes the entry into force of the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, signed in Moscow on 31 July 1991 by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America,57 including the Protocol to that Treaty signed at Lisbon on 23 May 1992 by the parties thereto, and the exchange of documents of ratification between Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States of America on 5 December 1994 at Budapest; 2. Also welcomes the signing of the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms in Moscow on 3 January 1993,52 and urges the parties to take the steps necessary to bring that Treaty into force at the earliest possible date; 3. Expresses its satisfaction at the reductions of strategic offensive arms being carried out in accordance with the 1991 Treaty as well as the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States of America to the 1993 Treaty in January 1996, and expresses its hope that it will soon be possible for the Russian Federation to take corresponding steps to ratify that Treaty and for the United States Senate and the State Duma of the Russian Federation to approve the Protocol to the 1993 Treaty and other documents signed on 26 September 1997, so that START II can enter into force; 66 See CD/1460. 67 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 944, No. 13446. /...