DATE=8/18/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA - U-S ARMS
NUMBER=5-44084
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The United States and Russia have opened a new 
series of strategic arms control negotiations. The 
first round of the so-called "START" talks was held 
behind closed doors in Moscow.  From the Russian 
capital, VOA's Peter Heinlein reports negotiators are 
hoping to conclude a new START-three arms treaty 
before President Clinton and Russian President Boris 
Yeltsin leave office.

TEXT:  The opening session of these mid-level talks 
was held at a private Russian foreign ministry 
mansion, away from the prying eyes and ears of 
reporters.  The head of the U-S delegation, 
Undersecretary of State John Holum, told VOA the two 
days of talks had been businesslike.

These preliminary discussions are being seen as the 
first delicate step down what could be a long and 
difficult road. The goal is a new START-three arms 
accord that would limit each side's nuclear arsenal to 
as little as two-thousand warheads. 

The process is complicated by the past refusal of 
Russia's lower house of parliament, the Duma, to 
ratify the 1993 START-two treaty. On top of that, the 
United States recently announced it wants to revise 
the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty.

That announcement raised howls of protest among 
Russian lawmakers already concerned about what many 
see as an attempt by Washington to dominate the post-
Cold war world. 

Analyst Alexander Pikayev of the Moscow Carnegie 
center says these new arms talks could go a long way 
toward easing the fears that still exist in Russia's 
political and military establishments.

            ///PIKAYEV ACT///

      These talks are the tools which would permit 
      both sides to repair the relationship which was 
      really damaged by some past developments, 
      including disagreements over war in Yugoslavia 
      and NATO expansion. So during these talks the 
      sides would overcome their disagreements and as 
      a result of these talks, the relations would be 
      repaired, which later on would help both Moscow 
      and Washington to proceed . in developing their 
      bilateral relationship and avoiding paradigms of 
      the Cold War.

            ///END ACT///

At the same time, Mr. Pikayev says he sees  no  hope 
the Duma will ratify START-two until a START-three 
agreement is also ready for approval. But he points to 
one glimmer of hope.  Both Presidents Clinton and 
Yeltsin are nearing the end of their terms, and would 
like to make a contribution to the cause of arms 
control before they leave office.

            ///2nd PIKAYEV ACT///

      I think that two administrations are interested 
      to conclude a treaty before next June, when 
      there would be Russian presidential election and 
      when Clinton administration would have to make a 
      decision about ABM deployments.

            ///END ACT///

But Mr. Pikayev says the two sides are already racing 
against the clock, because the difficult issues ahead 
of them will take time to resolve. 

Undersecretary of State Holum was cautiously 
optimistic after the opening round of talks. He 
described the atmosphere as "workmanlike," with both 
sides going away with plenty of homework to do.  The 
next session is tentatively set for next month in 
Washington. (Signed)

Neb/PFH/KL





18-Aug-1999 14:40 PM EDT (18-Aug-1999 1840 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.