DATE=12/2/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-223552
TITLE=YELTLSIN-PENTAGON-NUKE-L
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THEY WELCOME RUSSIAN PRESIDENT
BORIS YELTSIN'S REPORTED OFFER TO CUT THE NUMBER OF NUCLEAR
WARHEADS MOSCOW HOLDS. MEANTIME, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS
RUSSIA SHOULD MOVE TO RATIFY A PENDING ARMS CONTROL AGREEMENT.
V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS.
TEXT: ON A VISIT TO SWEDEN, PRESIDENT YELTSIN SAID RUSSIA WOULD
UNILATERALLY CUT ITS ARSENAL OF NUCLEAR WARHEADS BY ONE THIRD.
RUSSIAN OFFICIALS IN MOSCOW LATER CHARACTERIZED MR. YELTLSIN'S
REMARKS AS ONLY A PROPOSAL FOR FUTURE ARMS CONTROL NEGOTIATIONS.
WHATEVER THE CASE, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN MIKE DOUBLEDAY SAYS FEWER
WEAPONS ARE A GOOD IDEA.
/// CAPT MIKE DOUBLEDAY, USN ///
WE WOULD WELCOME A DECISION BY RUSSIA TO REDUCE OVERALL
NUCLEAR WARHEAD INVENTORIES. ASSUMING THAT THE RUSSIAN
DECISION ALSO INCLUDES TACTICAL AS WELL AS STRATEGIC
NUCLEAR WAR HEADS, SUCH A MOVE WOULD BRING RUSSIA'S
OVERALL STOCKPILE NUMBERS MORE IN LINE WITH OURS.
/// END ACT ///
THE U-S SENATE HAS RATIFIED THE 1993 START TWO ARMS REDUCTION
TREATY, BUT RUSSIA'S LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT HAS NOT, IN SPITE
OF A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS. START TWO AIMS TO CUT THE LONG RANGE
NUCLEAR ARSENALS OF BOTH NATIONS BY UP TO TWO THIRDS.
ARMS CONTROL ASSOCIATION SPOKESMAN JACK MENDELSOHN SAYS MONEY
PROBLEMS MAY BE FORCING RUSSIA TO CUT WEAPONS AND FORCES. HE
SAYS MR. YELTSIN MAY BE WORKING TO GET PUBLIC CREDIT FOR ACTIONS
THAT TIGHT BUDGETS ARE FORCING MOSCOW TO TAKE ANYWAY.
/// MENDELSOHN ACT ///
THIS ACT, I THINK ACT IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
EXPECTATION THAT THE RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT IS GOING TO LOOK
AT START TWO IN EARLY '98, AND THE YELTSIN
ADMINISTRATION WILL BE ABLE TO SAY, LOOK WE HAVE
UNILATERALLY TO PRETTY CLOSE TO START TWO LEVELS, WHAT
WOULD BE THE PROBLEM WITH START TWO. WE OUGHT TO GO
AHEAD WITH IT.
/// END ACT ///
THE ARMS CONTROL ASSOCIATION IS A PRIVATE GROUP THAT STUDIES
STRATEGIC ISSUES. (SIGNED)
NEB/JR/GKT/PT
02-Dec-97 3:56 PM EST (2056 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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