DATE=4/21/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / NUCLEAR (L)
NUMBER=2-261592
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:  Russia's lower house of parliament, the Duma, 
has ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, [or C-
T-B-T], which calls for countries worldwide to 
prohibit nuclear testing.  Moscow correspondent Eve 
Conant reports Russia's president-elect, Vladimir 
Putin, is forcing a fast pace on nuclear and security 
issues ahead of his inauguration on May 7th.

TEXT:  As expected, Russia's lower house approved the 
test ban treaty on Friday, the latest in a series of 
political victories for president-elect Putin.  Just 
last week, the Duma ratified the START-Two nuclear 
arms reduction treaty after years of delay.  START-Two 
would see both Russia and the United States slash 
their nuclear arsenals almost in half.

The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty is not an arms 
cutting agreement, but ratification serves to 
highlight Moscow's recent emphasis on nuclear control 
issues.  Ratification also may give Moscow the upper 
hand when Russia's foreign minister, Igor Ivanov, 
flies to the United States to attend a United Nations 
conference on nuclear non-proliferation next week.

            /// Ivanov Act in Russian in full and fade 
under ///

The foreign minister says, "The test ban treaty has 
been ratified by an overwhelming majority.  This is an 
important step for both Russia and the world in that 
it will help prevent the spread of nuclear weapons."

Last year, the U-S Senate refused to ratify the test 
ban treaty. The Senate ratified START-Two four years 
ago, but has not yet considered several changes to the 
treaty proposed by Russia.

/// OPT ///  The chief of the Duma's International 
Affairs Committee, Dimitry Rogozin, argued that by 
ratifying the test ban treaty, Russia would make it 
more difficult for the United States to move ahead 
with plans to alter the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile 
Treaty. The United States has said it may want to 
build a limited missile defense system -- a move 
Russia opposes.

            /// Rogozin Act in Russian in full and 
fade under ///

Mr. Rogozin says, "The test ban treaty is in many ways 
connected to the A-B-M treaty.  If we ratify the test 
ban treaty, then it will be harder for the United 
States to carry out tests on new nuclear weapons or 
technology."  /// END OPT ///

After years of Communist dominance in the Duma, 
Russia's newly elected parliament is now controlled by 
parties that support Mr. Putin and his Kremlin 
initiatives.  Communist lawmakers failed to win enough 
votes to block approval of the test ban treaty just as 
they did last week when they were  not  able to block 
ratification of START-Two.

Also Friday, Russia's top national security body, the 
Security Council, stamped its seal of approval on a 
new military doctrine boosting the defensive role of 
Russia's nuclear weapons.  The doctrine is expected to 
update a 1993 version, arguing that Russia might not 
be able to ward off a large-scale conventional attack 
without using nuclear weapons.  /// Opt ///  Security 
Council Secretary Sergey Ivanov and other officials 
urged President-elect Putin to sign the doctrine.  /// 
End Opt ///

            /// Ivanov Act in Russian in full and fade 
under ///

Mr. Ivanov says, "the doctrine has a defensive nature 
and Russia is sticking to a peaceful course.  However, 
Russia is going to secure its military interests using 
all forces, resources and means at its disposal."

Some Western experts argue the new Russian doctrine is 
too confrontational.  But president-elect Putin says a 
new strategy is a necessary response to a new 
international security environment, with last year's 
NATO strikes against Yugoslavia serving as one 
example. (Signed)

NEB/EC/GE/JP




21-Apr-2000 09:53 AM EDT (21-Apr-2000 1353 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.