DATE=5/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232468
TITLE=RUSSIA/START TWO  (L)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO: RUSSIA'S LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT HAS DEALT A BLOW TO
PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S HOPES FOR SPEEDY RATIFICATION OF THE
"START-TWO" ARMS CONTROL TREATY. FROM MOSCOW, VOA'S PETER
HEINLEIN REPORTS LAWMAKERS HAVE POSTPONED DEBATE ON THE ACCORD
UNTIL SEPTEMBER -- AT THE EARLIEST.

TEXT: JUST DAYS AFTER PRESIDENT YELTSIN PLEDGED AT THE BIRMINGHAM
(EDS: G-8 ) SUMMIT TO PUSH FOR EARLY APPROVAL OF START-TWO,
RUSSIAN LAWMAKERS MADE IT CLEAR THEY HAVE  NO  INTENTION OF
COMPLYING.

ALEXEI MITROFANOV, CHAIRMAN OF THE GEOPOLITICS COMMITTEE IN THE
DUMA, OR LOWER HOUSE, SAYS A RATIFICATION DEBATE WILL  NOT  TAKE
PLACE UNTIL AFTER A JULY-AUGUST RECESS.

MR. YELTSIN AND THEN U-S PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH SIGNED THE
START-TWO ACCORD IN 1993. THE U-S SENATE RATIFIED IT IN 1996, BUT
IT HAS BEEN HELD UP IN THE COMMUNIST AND HARDLINER-DOMINATED
DUMA.

FOLLOWING HIS WEEKEND MEETING WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON IN ENGLAND,
THE RUSSIAN LEADER SCHEDULED A SESSION THIS THURSDAY WITH
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS. A SPOKESMAN SAID MR. YELTSIN WOULD MAKE THE
CASE FOR PROMPT APPROVAL OF START-TWO, WHICH CUTS NUCLEAR
WARHEADS IN EACH COUNTRY TO 35-HUNDRED.

THE U-S AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENTS BOTH SAY THEY WANT TO BEGIN WORK
ON "START-THREE," WHICH WOULD LIMIT WARHEADS EVEN FURTHER. AT
BIRMINGHAM, MR. YELTSIN WENT SO FAR AS TO SAY PRESIDENT CLINTON
WOULD VISIT MOSCOW IN JULY FOR TALKS ON THE NEXT TREATY.

BUT THE DUMA'S REFUSAL TO TAKE UP START-TWO UNTIL SEPTEMBER
APPEARS TO PUT A CRIMP IN MR. YELTSIN'S PLANS. U-S OFFICIALS SAY
MR. CLINTON IS  NOT  LIKELY TO GO TO RUSSIA UNTIL START-TWO IS
RATIFIED.

POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY EVEN IN SEPTEMBER, MR. YELTSIN FACES A
DIFFICULT -- MAYBE EVEN IMPOSSIBLE -- TASK IN WINNING THE DUMA'S
APPROVAL FOR START-TWO. LAWMAKERS ARE FURIOUS AT THE RUSSIAN
LEADER FOR THE HUMILIATION THEY ENDURED EARLIER THIS MONTH WHEN
HE FORCED THEM TO ACCEPT HIS NOMINATION OF SERGEI KIRIYENKO AS
PRIME MINISTER. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR ANY OPPORTUNITY TO GET BACK
AT HIM.

HOLDING UP THE NUCLEAR ARMS TREATY, WHICH COMMUNISTS AND
NATIONALISTS OPPOSE ANYWAY, IS A CONVENIENT WAY TO EMBARRASS MR.
YELTSIN.  (SIGNED)

NEB/PFH/PCF

19-May-98 1:54 PM EDT (1754 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.