ACCESSION
ACCESSION NUMBER:219509 FILE ID:PO-509 DATE:03/13/92 TITLE:IRAQ'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM SAID TO BE "PUT ON HALT" (03/13/92) TEXT:*92031309.POL IRAQ'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM SAID TO BE "PUT ON HALT" (Clarke assesses non-proliferation efforts) (390) By Rosalind Mandine USIA Staff Writer Washington -- Iraq's nuclear program has been "successfully disrupted" and "put on halt," Richard Clarke, assistant secretary of state for politico-military affairs, told a congressional subcommittee March 13. However, he said "there is a lot more to be done, including the destruction of (nuclear) facilities." In testimony before a hearing of the Joint Economic Committee's Subcommittee on Technology and National Security, Clarke outlined progress in non-proliferation in 1991, characterizing the "overall picture" as "very much on the plus side." However he stressed that more needs to be done, citing problems related to chemical and biological weapons and to various world regions, including North Korea, Iran and South Asia. North Korea, he said, remains a major problem area in non-proliferation efforts. "North Korea's irresponsible proliferation behavior is most egregious in the case of missiles," he noted. "In fact, North Korea is now the only country selling complete missile systems that exceed MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime) parameters to the Third World -- a dubious distinction that threatens international security." A particular problem is North Korea's production of Scud missiles, notably a new Scud with an extended range of 1,000 kilometers, Clarke said. The extended-range Scud will be flight-tested this year and could be on the market next year, Clarke said, noting that North Korea has sold Scud missiles to some countries, including Syria and Iran. Another area of concern is Iran and its efforts to become a nuclear power, Clarke said, adding that the United States does not expect Iran to adhere fully to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. South Asia is an area for concern "primarily for nuclear proliferation reasons," Clarke said. There is a "risk that India and Pakistan will also compete in missile, chemical, and biological weapons as well," he said. The United States has proposed a five-nation conference, that would include the United States, Russia, China, Pakistan and India, "as a way to reduce tensions and deal with regional proliferation problems, among other subjects," Clarke said. He pointed out, however, that India has not yet agreed to participate. 1 On chemical and biological weapons, Clarke said Libya, Iran, Pakistan and Syria, among others, "continue to pursue a policy of acquiring CBW weapons." Clarke would not comment on news accounts alleging that Israel has transferred Patriot missile technology to China. NNNN .
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