DATE=4/25/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-IVANOV ON MISSILE DEFENSE (L-O)
NUMBER=2-261711
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:


INTRO:  Russia's Foreign Minister Igor Invanov warn s 
(Tuesday) that U-S plans to develop a national missile 
defense system could jeopardize the entire structure 
of nuclear disarmament agreements.  Correspondent 
Breck Ardery reports from the United Nations.   

TEXT:  Speaking to a U-N-sponsored conference on the 
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Mr. Ivanov pointed 
with pride to his nation's record of reducing its 
stockpiles of missiles and tactical nuclear weapons.  
He noted an agreement between the United States and 
Russia pledges both sides to no more than 25-hundred 
nuclear warheads by 2007 and said Russia would like to 
see that number even lower, at about 15-hundred each.

But Mr. Ivanov expressed great concern about plans by 
the United States to develop a national missile 
defense system that would provide a shield against 
nuclear attack.  He said such a system would clearly 
violate the existing Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty.

Speaking through an English translator, Mr. Ivanov 
indicated an American missile defense system would 
upset the entire foundation of nuclear disarmament.

            /// IVANOV TRANSLATOR ACT ///

      We must be perfectly clear about this, further 
      reductions in strategic offensive weapons can 
      only be considered as closely complimentary to 
      the preservation of the A-B-M treaty.

            /// END ACT ///

The United States says the missile defense system 
under consideration would be quite narrow, designed to 
defend against limited attacks from smaller nations 
and would constitute no threat to Russia's nuclear 
deterrent capability.

Mr. Ivanov said Russia shares U-S concerns about 
smaller nations obtaining nuclear-missile capability, 
but added there is another way to deal with the 
problem besides violating the A-B-M treaty.

            /// INANOV TRANSLATOR ACT ///

      Russia is prepared to engage in the broadest 
      consultations on this issue, both with the 
      United States and multi-laterally too.  The 
      Russian initiative to establish a global missile 
      and missile technology non-proliferation control 
      system serves this very purpose.

            /// END ACT ///

Mr. Ivanov says an international missile technology 
control system would establish joint action against 
the threat of nuclear weapons in the hands of smaller 
nations.   (SIGNED) 

NEB/UN/BA/LSF/RAE



25-Apr-2000 15:07 PM EDT (25-Apr-2000 1907 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.