DATE= 11/4/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-222179
TITLE=U-S / RUSSIA / NUCLEAR (S ONLY)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS DROPPED ITS CLAIM THAT RUSSIA MAY
HAVE DETONATED A NUCLEAR DEVICE IN THE ARCTIC CIRCLE LAST AUGUST.
V-O-A'S WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE HAS DETAILS.
TEXT: U-S OFFICIALS HAD INITIALLY SUSPECTED THAT A SEISMIC
DISTURBANCE IN THE ARCTIC SEA AUGUST 16TH MAY HAVE BEEN THE
RESULT OF A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION AT RUSSIA'S NOVAYA ZEMLYA ISLAND
TEST SITE -- WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN IN VIOLATION OF MOSCOW'S
MORATORIUM ON NUCLEAR TESTS.
BUT OFFICIALS NOW BELIEVE THE INCIDENT WAS THE RESULT OF WHAT
THEY CALL A 'NATURAL EVENT'.
THE ADMINISTRATION REVERSED ITS POSITION AFTER A PANEL OF EXPERTS
APPOINTED BY CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY DIRECTOR GEORGE TENET
REVIEWED THE AGENCY'S ANALYSIS OF THE SEISMIC EVENT, AND
CONCLUDED IT WAS NOT A NUCLEAR BLAST, BUT A DISTURBANCE IN THE
KARA SEA THAT WAS UNRELATED TO ACTIVITY AT RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR TEST
SITE.
THE C-I-A AND THE WHITE HOUSE HAVE ACCEPTED THE PANEL'S
CONCLUSION.
RUSSIA ALL ALONG HAD MAINTAINED THAT THE SEISMIC EVENT WAS THE
RESULT OF AN UNDERSEA EARTHQUAKE.
THE U-S SENATE IS SCHEDULED TO REVIEW THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN
TREATY NEXT YEAR, AND HAS MADE CLEAR IT WOULD RECONSIDER
COMPLIANCE IF RUSSIA ABANDONS ITS MORATORIUM. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/TMD/PT
04-Nov-97 4:48 PM EST (2148 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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