DATE=6/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233643
TITLE=RUSSIA / START TWO  (L)
BYLINE=MICHELE KELEMEN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  RUSSIA'S OPPOSITION-DOMINATED LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT 
HAS CALLED OFF PLANS TO HOLD HEARINGS ON THE START TWO TREATY, 
DELAYING HOPES FOR RATIFICATION OF THE NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT PACT. 
V-O-A'S MICHELE KELEMEN REPORTS.

TEXT:  FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV AND OTHER TOP OFFICIALS 
WERE DUE TO MEET LAWMAKERS JUNE 16TH TO TRY TO PERSUADE THEM TO 
RATIFY START TWO.  BUT LAWMAKERS DEALT A BLOW TO THE GOVERNMENT 
WEDNESDAY, VOTING OVERWHELMINGLY TO PUT OFF THOSE HEARINGS UNTIL 
AFTER PARLIAMENT'S ANNUAL RECESS.  ULTRA-NATIONALIST VLADIMIR 
ZHIRINOVSKY PROPOSED THE DELAY.

                       /// ZHIRINOVSKY ///

"WE SHOULD NOT BE HASTY IN THIS," MR. ZHIRINOVSKY TELLS FELLOW 
LAWMAKERS.  HE SAYS "WE WERE ALREADY DISARMED.  SOON WE WILL HAVE
NOTHING TO DEFEND OURSELVES EVEN IN MOSCOW. 

START TWO WAS SIGNED IN 1993 AND HAS BEEN RATIFIED BY THE U-S 
SENATE.  BUT NATIONALISTS AND COMMUNISTS ARGUE CUTTING IN HALF 
RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR ARSENAL, AS REQUIRED BY THE TREATY, WOULD BE TOO
EXPENSIVE AND WOULD HARM RUSSIAN SECURITY. 

                        //  REST OPT  //

LAWMAKERS ARE ALSO ANGRY THEY ARE COMING UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE 
UNITED STATES TO RATIFY THE TREATY.  THE UNITED STATES WANTS 
START TWO RATIFIED BEFORE PRESIDENT CLINTON AGREES TO A SUMMIT 
WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN.  DUMA RATIFICATION IS 
EXPECTED TO PAVE THE WAY FOR FURTHER DISARMAMENT TALKS.

THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN STEPPING UP ITS CAMPAIGN TO 
PERSUADE LAWMAKERS TO HOLD THE VOTE AND PLEDGES TO PUSH AHEAD 
DESPITE THE LATEST SETBACK IN PARLIAMENT.  THE DUMA, HOWEVER, 
APPEARS IN NO MOOD FOR COMPROMISES, AT LEAST NOT BEFORE THEIR TWO
MONTH BREAK.  (SIGNED)

NEB/MLK/KL/JO

10-Jun-98 10:23 AM EDT (1423 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.