DATE=5/5/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-231757
TITLE=ARMS CONTROL / BERGER (S ONLY)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  PRESIDENT CLINTON'S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR SANDY 
BERGER IS URGING THE U-S SENATE TO RATIFY SEVERAL ARMS CONTROL 
TREATIES -- WARNING THAT DELAYING ACTION WOULD PROMPT RUSSIA TO 
STALL FURTHER CUTS IN STRATEGIC WEAPONS.  HE MADE HIS COMMENTS ON
THE EVE OF HIS DEPARTURE TO MOSCOW TO PREPARE FOR TALKS BETWEEN 
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN AND PRESIDENT CLINTON IN BRITAIN 
NEXT WEEK.  V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT:  IN A SPEECH AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, MR. BERGER CALLED ON
SENATORS TO RATIFY THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY AND AN 
AMENDED ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE TREATY, AS WELL AS CHANGES TO THE 
"START TWO" NUCLEAR ARMS AGREEMENT THAT WOULD ALLOW RUSSIA MORE 
TIME TO DESTROY MISSILES.                          

REPUBLICAN LEADERS, INCLUDING FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE 
CHAIRMAN JESSE HELMS, HAVE BLOCKED CONSIDERATION OF THE TREATIES 
UNTIL AFTER THE RUSSIAN DUMA RATIFIES START TWO.

MR. BERGER SAYS RUSSIAN LAWMAKERS ARE WITHHOLDING ACTION ON START
TWO, IN PART, BECAUSE OF CONCERNS THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT 
COMPLY WITH THE A-B-M TREATY.  SOME SENATE REPUBLICANS OPPOSE 
CHANGES TO THE 1972 PACT THAT WOULD BLOCK DEVELOPMENT OF A 
NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM.                 

THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR ALSO ADDRESSED THE OPPOSITION OF 
SOME SENATORS TO THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY.  OPPONENTS 
SAY BANNING NUCLEAR TESTS WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO VERIFY.

MR. BERGER ARGUED SENATE FAILURE TO ACT ON THAT ACCORD WOULD -- 
IN HIS WORDS -- OPEN THE DOOR FURTHER TO REGIONAL NUCLEAR ARMS 
RACES AND A MUCH MORE DANGEROUS WORLD.  (SIGNED)

NEB/DAT/TMD/PLM



05-May-98 6:15 PM EDT (2215 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.