DATE=4/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-NUKE CONFERENCE OPENS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261661
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan has opened a 
month-long conference on nuclear weapons today 
(Monday) with a warning that nuclear war remains a 
very real threat.  VOA Correspondent Breck Ardery 
reports from the United Nations. 

TEXT:  Mr. Annan says there has been progress in 
controlling the spread of nuclear weapons in recent 
years and praised the Russian parliament for its 
recent ratification of two measures (START II and 
CTBT, or comprehensive test ban treaty) to reduce the 
nuclear threat.  However, the secretary-general says 
the 1998 nuclear tests by India and Pakistan were 
setbacks that make clear the need to fight the 
proliferation of atomic weapons which he believes 
remains a serious danger.

            /// ANNAN ACT ///

      In an era of new threats to peace and security, 
      we need to focus more than ever on halting 
      proliferation and reducing those weapons of mass 
      destruction that still threaten the very 
      existence of human life on this planet.

            /// END ACT ///

Mr. Annan, who spoke at the start of a month-long U-N 
review conference on the 1968 Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty, took note of U-S plans to 
develop a national missile defense system.  Without 
mentioning the United States by name, Mr. Annan spoke 
of "pressures" to develop national missile defenses. 

            /// ANNAN ACT ///

      This pressure is jeopardizing the A-B-M (anti-
      Ballistic Missile) treaty, which has been called 
      the cornerstone of strategic stability and could 
      well lead to a new arms race, setbacks for 
      nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and 
      create new incentives for missile proliferation.

            /// END ACT ///

The Clinton administration says it will decide within 
a few months whether to go ahead with development of a 
limited missile defense system.

            /// REST OPT ///

The U-N-sponsored conference on Nuclear Non-
Proliferation includes speeches by 20 foreign 
ministers including Madeleine Albright of the United 
States and Igor Ivanov of Russia. (Signed) 

NEB/BA/LSF/JO



24-Apr-2000 14:36 PM EDT (24-Apr-2000 1836 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.