DATE= 11/10/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-222448
TITLE=CUBA/NUCLEAR (L-O)
BYLINE=BILL RODGERS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A WASHINGTON RESEARCH ORGANIZATION SAYS A CUBAN NUCLEAR
PLANT UNDER CONSTRUCTION POSES NO THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES,
BUT COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD IF IT IS COMPLETED. CORRESPONDENT
BILL RODGERS REPORTS THIS ASSESSMENT CAME AFTER A TEAM OF EXPERTS
VISITED THE PLANT ON CUBA'S SOUTHERN COAST LAST MONTH.
TEXT: AMERICAN NUCLEAR PHYSICIST THOMAS COCHRAN SAYS THE
RUSSIAN-DESIGNED JURAGUA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IS THE MOST ADVANCED
REACTOR OF ITS SIZE BUILT BY RUSSIA.
BUT MR. COCHRAN, WHO VISITED THE PLANT LAST MONTH, TOLD REPORTERS
(MONDAY) IN WASHINGTON HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THE REACTOR'S CONTROL
SYSTEMS ARE AS GOOD AS THOSE BUILT IN WESTERN NATIONS. HE SAID
THE PLANT COULD POSE A SAFETY HAZARD IF IT IS COMPLETED.
/// COCHRAN ACT ///
THE SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH THIS PLANT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH
POOR CONSTRUCTION, POOR QUALITY-CONTROL, LACK OF WESTERN
SAFETY AND CONTROL EQUIPMENT, A POOR REGULATORY PROGRAM
IN CUBA, SO ALL THESE HUMAN FACTOR ELEMENTS ARE OF
LESSER QUALITY THAN WHERE YOU WOULD SEE ANYWHERE IN THE
WEST.
/// END ACT ///
BUT MR. COCHRAN ADDED THE PLANT WOULD NOT POSE A THREAT TO THE
UNITED STATES -- NOR DOES HE BELIEVE IT WOULD SUFFER AN ACCIDENT
SIMILAR TO THE CHERNOBYL DISASTER OF 1986, IN WHICH RADIATION WAS
RELEASED OVER A WIDE AREA OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION.
MR. COCHRAN TRAVELLED TO CUBA UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE
WASHINGTON-BASED RESEARCH ORGANIZATION "CENTER FOR DEFENSE
INFORMATION". OTHER DELEGATION MEMBERS AGREED WITH MR. COCHRAN'S
ASSESSMENT -- ADDING IT APPEARS UNLIKELY CUBA WILL EVER COMPLETE
ITS NUCLEAR PLANT BECAUSE IT CANNOT FIND THE ONE-BILLION-DOLLAR
INVESTMENT NEEDED TO FINISH THE PROJECT.
// REST OPT //
THE GROUP, WHICH LAST VISITED CUBA IN 1995, MET WITH CUBAN
OFFICIALS, INCLUDING TOP MILITARY OFFICERS. DELEGATION MEMBERS
SAID THEY FOUND A GENERAL HOPELESSNESS AMONG THESE OFFICIALS
ABOUT A POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENT IN RELATIONS BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND
HAVANA. THE DELEGATION CALLED FOR BOTH GOVERNMENTS TO TAKE STEPS
TO EASE TENSIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/WFR/RAE
10-Nov-97 2:56 PM EST (1956 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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