DATE=4/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-230505
TITLE=RUSSIA/START TWO  (S)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   RUSSIA'S COMMUNIST PARTY -- THE LARGEST HOLDER OF SEAT 
IN THAT COUNTRY'S PARLIAMENT -- IS THREATENING TO BLOCK 
RATIFICATION OF THE "START-TWO" ARMS CONTROL TREATY.  VOA'S PETER
HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: COMMUNIST LEADER GENNADY ZYUGANOV SAYS THE "DUMA," OR LOWER
HOUSE, SHOULD  NOT  ENDORSE THE 1993 TREATY. HE TOLD REPORTERS IT
MAKES  NO  SENSE TO RATIFY THE DOCUMENT AT A TIME WHEN RUSSIA 
HAS, IN HIS WORDS, "ZERO SECURITY."

THE START-TWO TREATY CALLS FOR RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES TO 
SLASH NUCLEAR ARSENALS FROM ABOUT SIX-THOUSAND EACH TO 
THREE-THOUSAND-500. THE U-S SENATE RATIFIED THE ACCORD IN 1996.

BUT THE OPPOSITION-DOMINATED RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT HAS DELAYED 
CONSIDERATION.  MANY LAWMAKERS SAY THE TREATY IS UNREALISTIC 
BECAUSE RUSSIA DOES  NOT  HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR DESTRUCTION 
OF ITS WEAPONS. 

VLADIMIR LUKIN, HEAD OF THE DUMA'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, WAS
QUOTED THURSDAY AS SAYING HE EXPECTS PARLIAMENT TO DEBATE THE 
TREATY BEFORE THE END OF MAY.  (SIGNED)

NEB/PFH/PCF

30-Apr-98 9:25 AM EDT (1325 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.