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DATE=4/11/2000 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=RUSSIA / START-TWO (L) NUMBER=2-261158 BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN DATELINE=MOSCOW CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Senior Russian lawmakers say the lower house of parliament, the Duma, could vote this week on ratification of the long-delayed START-Two arms control treaty. V-O-A's Peter Heinlein reports from Moscow. TEXT: Factional leaders in parliament have agreed to debate the Strategic Arms Reduction, or START-Two treaty Friday. Duma speaker Gennady Seleznyov said a vote could be held the same day. The accord was signed in 1993 by U-S President George Bush and Russian President Boris Yeltsin. The U-S Senate ratified it three years later, but consideration was repeatedly delayed by the previous, Communist and hardliner Duma, despite Kremlin pressure. But after last December's elections, Communists are no longer the largest parliamentary faction. That distinction now goes to the Unity bloc, and other pro- government factions loyal to President elect Vladimir Putin. An analysis by Russia's independent television indicates there is more than enough support for ratification in the current Duma. Even so, Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov says his party remains opposed. ?/// ZYUGANOV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER /// He says the Communists will vote against the treaty. He criticized what he called "the rush to vote", saying it was prompted only by President-elect Putin's desire to boost his image in the West before a scheduled visit to London later this month. Mr. Zyuganov said Russia's obligations under START-Two are too expensive, and could completely destroy the country's national security system. If the Duma votes for ratification Friday, the upper house or Federation Council could give its approval the following week. Mr. Putin could then have a signed document in hand as he begins a series of meetings with foreign leaders ahead of his scheduled May seventh inauguration. Ratification would pave the way for negotiations on a new START-Three agreement, and for a possible compromise over revisions to the 1972 Anti-Ballistic missile treaty. The Clinton administration is asking for modifications of the A-B-M treaty to allow work on a nuclear missile shield that would protect against the threat of an attack by a rogue state. Russia has objected, warning that changes to the landmark A-B-M accord could spark a new arms race. (Signed) NEB/PFH/JWH 11-Apr-2000 06:26 AM EDT (11-Apr-2000 1026 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .