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)
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Source: Voice of America
.