DATE=5/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232357
TITLE=CLINTON/YELTSIN (S)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=BIRMINGHAM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  PRESIDENT CLINTON AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN 
HELD THEIR FIRST ONE-ON-ONE MEETING IN NEARLY A YEAR (SUNDAY) -- 
ON THE SIDELINES OF THE EIGHT-COUNTRY SUMMIT IN BIRMINGHAM, 
ENGLAND.  CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM 
BIRMINGHAM.

TEXT:  THE TWO MEN DISCUSSED THEIR SHARED CONCERN ABOUT INDIA'S 
NUCLEAR TESTS AND THEIR OWN ARMS-CONTROL AGENDA, INCLUDING MR. 
YELTSIN'S EFFORTS TO GET THE START-TWO NUCLEAR ARMS TREATY 
THROUGH THE RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT. 

THE TREATY TO CUT THE ARSENALS OF BOTH SIDES BY TWO-THIRDS WAS 
RATIFIED BY THE U-S SENATE MORE THAN TWO-YEARS AGO, BUT HAS BEEN 
STALLED IN THE DUMA WHERE MEMBERS ARE ANGRY ABOUT NATO EXPANSION.
IN A TALK WITH REPORTERS AFTER THE MEETING, THE PRESIDENT SAID 
MR. YELTSIN TOLD HIM HE IS PURSUING RATIFICATION WITH NEW 
URGENCY:

                    /// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///

         HE SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS THING IS NOW IN THE DUMA -- IT 
         IS ACTIVELY BEING CONSIDERED.  THERE ARE A LOT OF 
         COMMITTEES WORKING ON IT, AND THAT HE WILL OBVIOUSLY NOT
         ONLY PUSH FOR ITS RATIFICATION, BUT ARGUE THAT IT OUGHT 
         TO BE CONSIDERED IN AN EVEN MORE TIMELY FASHION NOW 
         BECAUSE OF THE INDIAN TEST.

                         /// END ACT ///

MR. CLINTON SAID ONCE RATIFICATION OCCURS, THE TWO SIDES COULD 
QUICKLY NEGOTIATE EVEN DEEPER ARMS CUTS IN A START-THREE ACCORD. 
(SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/RAE

17-May-98 9:03 AM EDT (1303 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.