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
.