DATE=4/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-230283
TITLE=NUCLEAR PROTEST (L-ONLY)
  BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  IN GENEVA, A COALITION OF OVER ONE-THOUSAND PRIVATE 
GROUPS HAS PRESENTED THE UNITED NATIONS WITH PETITIONS, CARRYING 
MORE THAN 13 MILLION SIGNATURES, CALLING FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF 
ALL NUCLEAR WEAPONS.  THE SIGNATURES WERE PRESENTED TO THE 
CHAIRMAN OF AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON STRENGTHENING THE 
NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY PRIOR TO ITS REVIEW CONFERENCE 
IN THE YEAR 2000.  LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA HAS THE DETAILS.

TEXT:  THE CITIZEN'S ACTION GROUP -- CALLED "ABOLITION 
TWO-THOUSAND" -- SAYS THE LENGTHY PETITION IS A "WAKE-UP CALL."  
IT ACCUSES SIGNATORY NATIONS OF NOT LIVING UP TO THE PROMISES 
THEY MADE IN 1995 WHEN THE LAST REVIEW CONFERENCE OF THE 
NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY TOOK PLACE.  AT THAT TIME, THE 
186-NATIONS WHICH BELONG TO THE TREATY AGREED TO BEGIN 
NEGOTIATIONS ON THE ELIMINATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS.  BUT THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE U-S-BASED "NUCLEAR AGE PEACE FOUNDATION," DAVID 
KRIEGER, SAYS NO MOVES HAVE BEEN MADE IN THAT DIRECTION.

                        ///KRIEGER ACT///

         PROMISE AFTER PROMISE HAS  NOT  BEEN KEPT BY THE NUCLEAR
         WEAPONS STATES, AND WE THINK THAT IT'S TIME THAT  
         PRESSURE BE BROUGHT TO BEAR BY THE NON-NUCLEAR WEAPONS 
         (STATES) AND BY THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD TO MOVE THE 
         NUCLEAR WEAPONS STATES TO SOME SERIOUS ACTION.  //OPT// 
         AND SO FAR, MOST OF THEIR ACTION HAS BEEN A MATTER OF 
         HYPOCRISY RATHER THAN TRUE ACTION FOR THE ELIMINATION OF
         NUCLEAR WEAPONS. //END OPT//

                          ///END ACT///

"ABOLITION TWO-THOUSAND" IS CALLING ON THE NUCLEAR POWERS TO 
DISABLE THEIR WEAPONS BY SEPARATING WARHEADS FROM DELIVERY 
VEHICLES.  THE GROUP IS ALSO URGING NATIONS TO SIGN AN 
INTERNATIONAL TREATY BY THE YEAR 2000 AGREEING TO ELIMINATE ALL 
NUCLEAR WEAPONS WITHIN A FIXED TIME PERIOD.  //REST OPT// THE 
GROUP SAYS WITH THE END OF THE COLD WAR, THE THREAT OF NUCLEAR 
CONFRONTATION HAS RECEDED.  HOWEVER, IT SAYS NEW NUCLEAR THREATS 
HAVE TAKEN THEIR PLACE.  ANTI-NUCLEAR ACTIVIST, ARJUN MAKHIJANI, 
SAYS NATIONS ATTENDING THE U-N CONFERENCE HAVE TO TAKE STEPS TO 
SAFEGUARD NUCLEAR MATERIALS WHICH COULD FALL INTO THE HANDS OF 
TERRORISTS OR ROGUE STATES.  HE CALLS THE THREATS CONSIDERABLE.

                      ///MAKHIJANI ACT/// 

         THE NUCLEAR WEAPONS MATERIALS WITHIN THE WEAPONS 
         PROGRAMS OF THE WEAPONS STATES CAN BE USED TO PRODUCE 
         MORE THAN 150-THOUSAND NUCLEAR WEAPONS -- THAT'S THE 
         AMOUNT OF MILITARY MATERIALS THERE ARE.  AND, THERE'S 
         ENOUGH PLUTONIUM WITHIN THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR, BOTH 
         SEPARATED AND NON-SEPARATED, TO MAKE ANOTHER 
         200-THOUSAND WEAPONS.

                          ///END ACT///

AT THE SAME TIME, MR. MAKHIJANI SAYS THE COMMAND AND CONTROL 
INFRASTRUCTURE IN RUSSIA IS DETERIORATING, INCREASING THE 
DANGERS.   HE URGES THE FIVE NUCLEAR POWERS TO QUICKLY BRING 
NUCLEAR MATERIALS AND WEAPONS UNDER SOME KIND OF SECURE 
INTERNATIONAL CONTROL SO THEY CAN'T BE USED OR ACCIDENTALLY FIRED
OFF TO CREATE, WHAT HE CALLS, A NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST. (SIGNED) 

NEB/LS/PCF

27-Apr-98 8:35 AM EDT (1235 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.