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DATE=5/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233051
TITLE=RUSSIA / GEPHARDT / NUCLEAR  (L ONLY)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  A SENIOR U-S LAWMAKER CURRENTLY VISITING RUSSIA IS 
PRESSING FOR SWIFT INTERNATIONAL ACTION TO PREVENT THE FURTHER 
SPREAD OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS.  V-O-A MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT PETER 
HEINLEIN REPORTS HOUSE MINORITY LEADER RICHARD GEPHARDT'S MAIN 
CONCERN IS THE TRANSFER OF NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN.
TEXT: CONGRESSMAN GEPHARDT SAYS RECENT TESTS BY INDIA AND 
PAKISTAN PROVE THE THREAT OF UNILATERAL U-S SANCTIONS IS  NOT A 
SUFFICIENT DETERRENT.
                       ///GEPHARDT ACT///
 OBVIOUSLY THE THREAT OF SANCTIONS BY THE UNITED STATES HAS  NOT 
STOPPED THESE COUNTRIES FROM NUCLEAR TESTING.  THAT MEANS TO ME, 
WE NEED TO TRY TO COME UP WITH NEW AND BETTER WAYS TO INDUCE 
COUNTRIES LIKE PAKISTAN AND INDIA TO SIGN THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST 
BAN TREATY AND SIGN OTHER NON PROLIFERATION TREATIES SO THERE IS 
NOT A FURTHER ESCALATION OF THIS ARMS RACE. 
                          ///END ACT///
MR. GEPHARDT, LEADER OF THE MINORITY DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE, SAYS
HE IS EMPHASIZING THE NEED FOR STRONGER BILATERIAL COOPERATION IN
HALTING NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION IN HIS TALKS WITH RUSSIAN LEADERS. 
HE SAYS HE HAS BEEN IMPRESSED WITH RUSSIA'S EFFORTS TO PREVENT 
THE TRANSFER OF EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY TO ROGUE STATES SUCH AS 
IRAN.
                     ///2ND GEPHARDT ACT///
 I HAVE LEARNED A GOOD DEAL ABOUT THE EFFORTS THAT ARE BEING MADE
HERE TO STOP THE EXPORT OF MATERIALS AND INFORMATION TO IRAN IN 
THIS AREA.
                          ///END ACT///
THE CONGRESSMAN IS ALSO TALKING TO LEADERS OF THE DUMA, RUSSIA'S 
LOWER HOUSE, ABOUT PASSAGE OF THE START-TWO NUCLEAR ARMS TREATY. 
THE 1993 ACCORD HAS ALREADY BEEN RATIFIED BY THE U-S SENATE, BUT 
IS BEING HELD UP IN THE DUMA.
MR. GEPHARDT SAID THERE IS A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEED TO 
MOVE FORWARD ON A START-THREE TREATY THAT WOULD FURTHER LIMIT 
NUCLEAR ARSENALS.  BUT HE ACKNOWLEDGED RATIFICATION OF START-TWO 
IN THE OPPOSITION-DOMINATED DUMA WILL BE DIFFICULT. 
WHEN ASKED FOR A GUESS ABOUT WHEN THE ACCORD MIGHT BE BROUGHT UP 
FOR A VOTE, HE REPLIED "THE DUMA WILL DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE IN DUE
TIME". (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/DW/JO 
30-May-98 9:02 AM EDT (1302 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.