DATE=3/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246714
TITLE=RUSSIA / START-TWO (L ONLY)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE LOWER HOUSE OF RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT, THE DUMA, HAS 
OPENED THE WAY FOR DEBATE ON THE LONG-DELAYED START-TWO ARMS 
TREATY.  V-O-A MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS THE 
MOVE IS SEEN AS A BOOST FOR PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV AS HE
PREPARES FOR A TRIP TO THE UNITED STATES.

TEXT:  THE RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER GOES TO WASHINGTON NEXT WEEK 
WITH A BEGGING BOWL IN ONE HAND.  IN THE OTHER, HE WOULD LIKE TO 
HAVE A GIFT.

MR. PRIMAKOV WILL SEE THE HEADS OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY 
FUND AND OTHER LENDING AGENCIES IN HOPES OF RESTARTING THE FLOW 
OF DESPERATELY NEEDED LOANS.  A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR LOAN PACKAGE
WAS CUT OFF AFTER LAST YEAR'S FINANCIAL CRASH, AND THE TALKS ARE 
EXPECTED TO BE DIFFICULT.

BUT MR. PRIMAKOV'S POSITION COULD BE IMPROVED IF HE CAN SHOW 
SIGNS MOSCOW IS SOFTENING ITS POSITION TOWARD THE WEST.  RUSSIAN 
ANALYSTS SUGGEST MOVEMENT ON THE LONG-STALLED START-TWO ARMS 
TREATY MIGHT HELP.

RUSSIA'S INTERFAX NEWS AGENCY QUOTED A FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL 
TUESDAY AS DENYING ANY LINK BETWEEN THE LOAN TALKS AND DEFENSE 
ISSUES ON THE PRIME MINISTER'S AGENDA.  BUT ALMOST 
SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE DUMA, OR LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT TUESDAY 
QUIETLY OPENED THE WAY FOR START-TWO APPROVAL.

TO BE SURE, THE DUMA MOVE WAS GUARDED.  IT CAME IN THE FORM OF AN
AGREEMENT TO ASK PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN TO EXERCISE HIS RIGHT TO
REQUEST RATIFICATION.  THE REQUEST WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A BILL THAT
WOULD ALLOW RUSSIA TO BACK OUT OF START TWO IF THE UNITED STATES 
VIOLATES THE 1972 ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE TREATY. 

RUSSIA IS CONCERNED ABOUT U-S PLANS TO BUILD A NATIONAL MISSILE 
DEFENSE SYSTEM THAT IT BELIEVES COULD VIOLATE A-B-M.

THE BILL STILL MUST BE PASSED BY BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT AND 
SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT.  BUT THE DUMA'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, VLADIMIR LUKIN, SAYS THE DUMA ACTION PUTS IN 
MOTION A PROCESS THAT WILL LEAD TO DEBATE ON START TWO.

          ///  LUKIN ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER  ///

MR. LUKIN SAYS, "THE EFFECT OF THIS DOCUMENT IS THAT THE DUMA 
WILL RATIFY START-TWO, AND WILL ACCOMPANY IT WITH 
RECOMMENDATIONS." 

IN AN UNUSUAL TELEVISION APPEARANCE TUESDAY, MR. PRIMAKOV SAID 
RATIFICATION OF START-TWO WOULD GUARANTEE CONTINUED U-S 
OBSERVANCE OF THE A-B-M TREATY. 

        ///  PRIMAKOV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER  ///

HE SAYS, "THE ISSUE IS THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL ABANDON PLANS 
TO BUILD A MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM IF WE RATIFY THE TREATY."  HE  
ADDED, "IF WE DO  NOT, I'M SURE THE U-S WILL LEAVE THE A-B-M 
TREATY."

IN A FURTHER DEVELOPMENT TUESDAY, A KREMLIN AIDE WAS QUOTED AS 
SAYING PRESIDENT YELTSIN WOULD QUICKLY EXAMINE THE DUMA REQUEST 
IN HOPES OF SPEEDING UP THE START-TWO RATIFICATION PROCESS.

PARLIAMENT'S SPEAKER GENNADY SELEZNYOV TOLD REPORTERS IF THE  
PRESIDENT AGREES, LAWMAKERS WOULD BEGIN DEBATING START TWO  
BEFORE PRIME MINISTER PRIMAKOV LEAVES FOR WASHINGTON MARCH 24TH. 
(SIGNED)

NEB/PFH/JWH

16-Mar-99 2:29 PM EST (1929 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.