DATE=4/29/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA/ARMS CONTROL (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261834
BYLINE=CHARLES MAYNES
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=

INTRO:  A senior American official says Russia 
remains opposed to any negotiations that would 
modify a key U-S-Soviet arms control agreement.  
Yet, as Charles Maynes reports from Moscow, 
leaders of the two nations are certain to discuss
the issue further during a June summit in the 
Russian capital.


TEXT:  The American ambassador to Russia, James 
Collins, says Moscow continues to reject U-S-
backed amendment proposals for altering the 1972 
Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty.  "On the other 
hand," in Collins's words, the Russians "are 
making it clear they are prepared to discuss the 
problem of missile threats."

The U-S has indicated it wants to alter the 
existing cold-war era pact to allow it to deploy 
a missile defense system against new threats that 
might emerge from so-called "rogue nations."  
Moscow, however, argues that development of a 
missile defense shield would shift the balance of 
nuclear power in Washington's favor and threaten 
to unravel key U-S-Russian arms control
agreements.

On Friday, American officials confirmed a draft 
of amendments to A-B-M had been presented to 
Moscow.  According to Ambassador Collins, the U-S 
proposals open the door to a wider defense 
system, but a "very limited one" incapable of 
neutralizing the Russian nuclear arsenal.

However, hardliners in Russia argue that U-S  
assurances are mere bluff.  A top Russian Defense 
Ministry official, General Leonid Ivashov, said a 
U-S missile defense shield would be aimed at 
combating Russian and Chinese intercontinental 
ballistic missiles.  "The Russian military 
leadership has no doubts about this," Ivashov was
quoted as saying.

Nonetheless, despite differences, negotiations 
between Moscow and Washington will continue.  In 
particular, President Bill Clinton is expected to
seek common ground on the issue when he goes to 
Moscow in early June to meet with his Russian 
counterpart, Vladimir Putin.  (Signed)


NEB/CM/ALW/PT





29-Apr-2000 09:42 AM EDT (29-Apr-2000 1342 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.