DATE=4/19/2000
TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP
TITLE=RUSSIA TREATY 
NUMBER=6-11781
BYLINE=ERIKA EVANS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS
TELEPHONE=619-2702
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:  The upper house of Russia's parliament has 
ratified the long-delayed START-Two nuclear arms 
reduction treaty a week after similar action by the 
after the lower house, or Duma.  Under the terms of 
the treaty, Russia and the United States will cut 
their nuclear arsenals nearly in half by the year 
2007.  While commenting on the treaty, U-S editorial 
writers are also considering the efforts of Russian 
President-elect Vladimir Putin to reposition Russia on 
the world stage.

Here now is _________________ with a sampling in 
today's U-S Opinion Roundup.

TEXT:  The nuclear arms treaty, known as START-Two 
(Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty - Two) was signed in 
January 1993 by then U-S President George Bush and 
Russian leader Boris Yelstin.  It was ratified by the 
U-S Senate in January, 1996.  But having attracted 
determined opposition from Communists and nationalists 
in the Duma, the treaty had been stalled for many 
years.  Many Russian politicians and military 
officials have insisted that keeping a large number of 
nuclear weapons would help Russia remain a global 
superpower. But Russia's ongoing economic difficulties 
may be changing such attitudes.

Many U-S newspaper editorials suggest that Russia's 
ratification of the START-Two treaty is not only an 
important victory for arms control, but also a 
personal achievement for President-elect Putin.  The 
Chicago Tribune says there could be no more 
encouraging sign from Russia than this vote.

      VOICE:  For all the promise of the Yelstin 
      years, the Communist-dominated Duma blocked at 
      every turn not just arms reduction, but any 
      effort to pass the structural reforms necessary 
      for Russia to build a modern economy.  Most 
      Communists voted "no" on this ratification too.  
      But what has significantly changed since last 
      December's Duma elections is that the Communist 
      Party no longer has a stronghold on the Duma.  
      The legislative logjam [EDS: stalemate] has been 
      broken at last.  ... Russia's approval of START-
      Two has a practical aspect.  It [Russia] can't 
      afford to maintain its nuclear arsenal at 
      current levels; this frees up resources that can 
      be spent on modernizing its conventional forces.  
      But this treaty should be hailed as an important 
      fresh start for arms reduction. 

TEXT:  That was the opinion of the Chicago Tribune.  
The Akron Beacon Journal in Ohio says the vote has 
handed Mr. Putin two big victories.

      VOICE:  Domestically, it relieves some of 
      Russia's tremendous budgetary stress.  Last year 
      alone, maintaining nuclear weapons was said to 
      have cost three-billion dollars, about eight 
      percent of Russia's national budget.  (Mr.) 
      Putin's goals of stabilizing the economy and 
      accelerating market reforms are enhanced.  On 
      the world stage, (Mr.) Putin positioned himself 
      more effectively to challenge an American 
      request to amend the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile 
      treaty to allow a shield against nuclear attack 
      from rogue states such as North Korea.  ... 
      (Mr.) Putin will be inaugurated next month.  He 
      recognized the benefits of quick Duma approval 
      of START-Two.  It suggests he is a man who can 
      get things done, unlike (former Russian 
      President Boris) Yelstin, who suffered (from) 
      Communist Party control of parliament.

TEXT:  So says the Akron Beacon Journal.  The Omaha 
World Herald in Nebraska says, above all, the arms 
pact adds to safety.

      VOICE:  Russia and the United States appear 
      headed toward a more stable nuclear balance.  
      Approval of the treaty at long last seems to 
      signal that under its new president, Vladimir 
      Putin, Russia will be more willing to embrace 
      arms control moves that are in the security of 
      both countries. ... Perhaps the most important 
      part of START-Two is that it would eliminate all 
      land-based multiple-warhead missiles.  That move 
      toward single-warhead missiles would be a 
      watershed change from the past two decades and 
      should greatly enhance nuclear stability.  ... 
      (Mr.) Putin has warned that if the United States 
      decides to deploy a missile defense, Russia will 
      reject its obligations under the START process.  
      Despite the uncertainties, Americans are 
      fortunate that the U-S / Russian nuclear 
      relationship has changed so positively over the 
      past two decades.  It's too bad that some people 
      are framing an either-or question -- either 
      START-Two or a missile defense system.  Both 
      courses of action, if implemented with care and 
      if every effort were taken to avoid Washington-
      Moscow misunderstandings, could make the world 
      safer.

TEXT:  That was the view of The Omaha World Herald.  
And lastly, we have the opinion of the South Carolina 
Post and Courier:

      VOICE:  The victory is a reassuring sign that 
      recent elections in Russia may have brought an 
      end to the governmental deadlock that stalled 
      reforms for much of the past decade.  Further 
      progress on U-S / Russian arms control now 
      becomes possible.  Russia does continue to 
      oppose the United States' interest in deploying 
      a limited anti-ballistic missile (A-B-M) system.  
      But this week's vote suggests that Russia's 
      parliament will no longer be an unmovable 
      roadblock to such progress.

TEXT:  With that comment from the South Carolina Post 
and Courier, we conclude this sampling of U-S press 
reaction to Russia's approval of the START-Two nuclear 
arms reduction treaty.

NEB/ENE/JP




19-Apr-2000 17:18 PM EDT (19-Apr-2000 2118 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.