John Kerry: “before the Senate this afternoon is the task of taking the appropriate action, in fulfillment of the Senate's vital…”

“before the Senate this afternoon is the task of taking the appropriate action, in fulfillment of the Senate's vital constitutional advice and consent responsibility and power, to adapt the Conventional Forces in Europe [CFE] Treaty to the constant change that affects our world--change which has been more sweeping and profound in Europe in the past 7 or 8 years than at any time in the preceding 40. In 1990, after years of grueling negotiations to control the historically unprecedented conventional weaponry arrayed on opposite sides of the Iron Curtain in Central Europe, the CFE was signed. It entered into force in November of 1992. The long, difficult journey that led to the CFE treaty included one failed effort--the Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction Treaty episode--where negotiators eventually had to throw up their hands and acknowledge defeat in their efforts. But fortunately that failure was not permitted to become permanent. With U.S. leadership, efforts recommenced, and the CFE is the result. The CFE treaty is the first in the post-World War II period to succeed in limiting and reducing conventional weaponry.…”