DATE=3/18/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246831
TITLE=RUSSIA / MISSILE DEFENSE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  RUSSIA HAS DENOUNCED A U-S PROPOSAL TO BUILD A MISSILE  
DEFENSE SYSTEM.  V-O-A'S EVE CONANT IN MOSCOW REPORTS RUSSIA SAYS
SUCH A SYSTEM WOULD UNDERMINE DECADES OF PROGRESS ON ARMS 
CONTROL.

TEXT:  A FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT SHARPLY CRITICIZED THE U-S  
LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING A NATIONWIDE DEFENSE AGAINST A LIMITED 
BALLISTIC MISSILE ATTACK.

CONGRESSIONAL SPONSORS OF THE MEASURE HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN 
ABOUT THE GROWING POSSIBILITY OF A NUCLEAR STRIKE AGAINST THE 
UNITED STATES FROM A SMALL ROGUE STATE RATHER THAN BY RUSSIA.  
AND A TEAM OF U-S LAWMAKERS TRAVELLED TO MOSCOW THIS WEEK TO 
REASSURE RUSSIAN LAWMAKERS THAT THE BILL IS  NOT  DIRECTED 
AGAINST RUSSIA.

BUT RUSSIAN OFFICIALS HAVE LONG EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT A U-S 
NUCLEAR DEFENSE SYSTEM WOULD VIOLATE THE 1972 ANTI-BALLISTIC 
MISSILE TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE SOVIET UNION. 
THE A-B-M TREATY STRICTLY REGULATES THE DEPLOYMENT OF 
ANTI-MISSILE SYSTEMS.  RUSSIA VIEWS THE TREATY AS A CORNERSTONE 
OF NUCLEAR DETERRENCE.

THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT  (THURSDAY)  CALLED THE 
PROPOSED U-S DEFENSE SYSTEM A SERIOUS THREAT TO ARMS CONTROL AND 
STRATEGIC STABILITY.  THE STATEMENT ALSO STRESSED THAT THE U-S 
MOVE TO BUILD THE DEFENSE SYSTEM UNDERMINES ARMS AGREEMENTS THAT 
HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT IN THE YEARS SINCE THE A-B-M TREATY WAS 
SIGNED.

RUSSIA'S DEFENSE MINISTER, IGOR SERGEYEV, TOOK A SOFTER STANCE 
THAN THE FOREIGN MINISTRY.  HE TOLD A RUSSIAN NEWS AGENCY HE HAD 
HOPED RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES WOULD REACH AGREEMENT ON 
ANTI-MISSILE DEFENSES.  HE ALSO REITERATED THE NEED FOR RUSSIA'S 
RATIFICATION OF THE START-TWO TREATY -- A DEAL THAT WOULD SEE 
BOTH THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA DRAMATICALLY CUT THEIR NUCLEAR 
ARSENAL.

THIS WEEK, RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT CLEARED THE WAY FOR EARLY DEBATE 
ON START-TWO, BUT WITH ONE CONDITION -- THAT RATIFICATION OF 
START-TWO WILL BE CANCELLED IF THE U-S FAILS TO ADHERE TO THE 
A-B-M TREATY.  (SIGNED)

NEB/EC/JWH/JO

18-Mar-99 12:54 PM EST (1754 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.