DATE=4/3/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ANTI-MISSILE DEFENSE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260885
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A U-S anti-nuclear group says a proposed
multi-billion dollar U-S anti-missile defense system
is likely to trigger a new nuclear arms race. Lisa
Schlein in Geneva reports the coalition of 17 groups
says the new system could increase the danger of
nuclear war.
TEXT: The Coalition to Reduce Nuclear Dangers says a
decision to deploy the proposed limited national
missile defense would increase, rather than reduce,
nuclear dangers.
President Clinton is to decide within the next few
months whether to go ahead with the missile defense
system. Advocates say it is needed to ward off
threats by so-called rogue states.
Coalition to Reduce Nuclear Dangers Executive
Director, Daryl Kimball, says a slim threat from
states such as North Korea, Iran, and Iraq exists.
/// KIMBALL ACT ///
This limited missile defense program is not
going to be able to successfully deal with that
threat because the technology is simply not
going to work. It can be overcome by these
states even with their more limited
technological capabilities. And, the United
States has got to think of - and U-S allies have
got to think of - other strategies to deal with
this threat, diplomatic, military strategies.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Kimball says the United States has to be careful
not to worsen existing and real nuclear dangers while
dealing with these potential emerging threats. He
warns the proposed U-S system would violate the 1972
Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, which forbids
nationwide missile defense.
U-S officials are trying to get Russia to agree to
modify the treaty to allow limited national defenses.
Mr. Kimball says even if Russia and the U-S were to
make such a deal, China is likely to react negatively.
/// 2ND KIMBALL ACT ///
China believes that this system, which is
designed to stop ... long-range nuclear-armed
missiles, is designed to deal with them (China).
They have no more than a couple of dozen long-
range missiles. So their reaction is likely to
be an acceleration of their nuclear
modernization program, which could have a ripple
effect in all sorts of other areas.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Kimball says one possible response, is that if
China increases its nuclear arsenal, Russia might be
tempted to build-up its medium-range missiles. The
Russian program is intended to counter a threat from
China.
Mr. Kimball says U-S deployment of a national missile
defense could severely damage international security
by ending reductions in Russian nuclear weapons. The
United States is estimated to have about 72-hundred
strategic nuclear weapons, Russia a force of 59-
hundred.
Mr. Kimball also notes that U-S and Russian nuclear
forces remain on high alert, which he says increases
the possibility of accidental nuclear war. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/GE/RAE
03-Apr-2000 10:33 AM EDT (03-Apr-2000 1433 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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