DATE=4/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S / RUSSIA ARMS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261147
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  U-S officials say Russian moves toward 
ratification of the long-delayed START-two arms 
reduction treaty could mark an important step toward 
even deeper cuts in nuclear weapons.  The U-S reaction 
came after Russian parliamentary leaders announced 
that debate on the treaty could begin as early as 
Friday, and approval now looks likely.  From the State 
Department, V-O-A's Kyle King reports.

TEXT:  Russian parliamentary leaders emerged from 
talks with members of President Vladimir Putin's 
Security Council Monday, saying a vote on the START-
two treaty could come some time this month.

(Vladimir Lukin) The deputy speaker of the Duma, or 
lower house of Parliament, told the Interfax news 
agency that chances of ratification are high.

The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as START-
two, would slash the nuclear arsenals of both 
countries by about 50 percent. 

The treaty was ratified by the U-S Senate in 1996, but 
had been blocked in Russia's Parliament by Communists 
and hard-liners, who lost control of the Duma in the 
last elections.

Debate on the issue is expected to begin Friday, but 
the date must first be agreed by the Duma's agenda 
setting committee.

State Department spokesman James Rubin says Russian 
ratification of the START-two treaty could open the 
way for even deeper cuts in nuclear weapons.

                   /// RUBIN ACT ///

      We think ratification of START-two will be a 
      very, very important step to protect the future 
      of all of us in promoting, comprehensive, 
      concrete arms control measures.  And it will not 
      only be important for its own sake, it will open 
      up the possibility of accelerating discussions 
      on even deeper cuts in strategic nuclear arms, 
      that we believe could advance our security and 
      the security of the Russians.

                  /// END ACT ///

The United States and Russia have already been 
discussing a so-called START-three treaty, but formal 
negotiations can not begin until START-two is ratified 
in Moscow.

Some analysts say Russian officials are hoping the 
treaty can be approved in time for Russian Foreign 
Minister Igor Ivanov's trip to Washington later this 
month.   (Signed)

NEB/KBK/TVM/WTW



10-Apr-2000 17:18 PM EDT (10-Apr-2000 2118 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.