project on each side. The United States chose as its project the Infra-red Background Signature Survey. We have asked the Soviet Union to select a Soviet project for pilot implementation. The United States idea is that the sides should conduct a "try-out" before implementing the free-standing predictability agreement. In this respect the initiative is similar to "try-outs" in other negotiations - the joint verification experiment in the United States-Soviet nuclear testing talks, the verification and stability measures in the START negotiations, and the bilateral data exchange and verification experiment in the United States-Soviet chemical weapons bilateral discussions. There has been recent and important progress on predictability measures. The sides agree that they should expand and strengthen them. On the remaining issues in our negotiations, much remains to be done to achieve a defence and space treaty that provides for greater stability in the years ahead as new technologies open the way for reducing the threat posed by ballistic missiles. Attaining this goal would contribute to greater security for the entire international community, and be the first co-operative transition in the history of United States-Soviet strategic relations. Having spoken about our diplomatic efforts to achieve a co-operative transition to greater reliance on strategic ballistic missile defences, I thought it would be useful to discuss briefly the United States commitment to such defences and the contributions they could make. On 7 February, at the Lawerence Livermore National Laboratory, President Bush stated: "In the 1990s, strategic defence makes much more sense than ever before". He added later that day in San Francisco: "Let's be clear: this purely defensive concept doesn't threaten a single person anywhere in the world. God forbid, if it ever had to be used, it would be used against missiles, not against people". CD/PV.553 10 (Mr. Smith. United States ) The President's emphasis on the value of defences is best understood in 
**Analysis**
This text appears to be a diplomatic document discussing a joint project between the United States and the Soviet Union (now Russia) to improve predictability and stability in their strategic relations. It mentions ballistic missiles, defense systems, and technological advancements, suggesting a strong focus on science and technology.

**Category**
Science and technology