DATE=4/20/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / NUCLEAR ONITER (S-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261566
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:  Russia's lower house of parliament, the Duma, 
is scheduled to hold a hearing Friday on ratification 
of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.  Moscow 
correspondent Eve Conant reports.

TEXT:  The Duma is expected to show its support of a 
world-wide ban on testing nuclear weapons and ratify 
the treaty on Friday.  At the government's request, 
the hearing will be held behind closed doors.

Ratification would mark yet another victory for 
President-elect Vladimir Putin, who is setting a brisk 
pace for approval of long-standing international 
agreements on nuclear issues.  Last week, the Duma 
approved the 1993 START-Two nuclear arms reduction 
treaty after years of delay.

Some Russian commentators suggest ratification of the 
test ban treaty would allow Moscow to upstage the West 
when Russia's foreign minister visits the United 
States for meetings on arms control issues next week.  
The U-S Senate refused to ratify the treaty last year, 
after opponents argued it would undermine strategic 
stability.   (Signed)

NEB/EC/GE/ENE/JP




20-Apr-2000 13:52 PM EDT (20-Apr-2000 1752 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.