DATE=5/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232797
TITLE=RUSSIA / NORWAY (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=MICHELE KELEMEN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: RUSSIA HAS OFFERED TO DISMANTLE ITS OLD NUCLEAR
SUBMARINES BASED IN THE FAR NORTH. BUT AS V-O-A MOSCOW
CORRESPONDENT MICHELE KELEMEN REPORTS, PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN IS
ASKING NORWAY FOR FINANCIAL HELP TO COMPLETE THE TASK.
TEXT: PRESIDENT YELTSIN SAYS RUSSIA NO LONG NEEDS THE NUCLEAR
SUBMARINES IN THE BARENTS SEA REGION AND IS READY TO SET UP A
SECURITY ZONE IN THAT AREA.
/// YELTSIN ACT IN RUSSIAN, ESTABLISH AND FADE ///
SPEAKING AFTER TALKS WITH THE KING HARALD OF NORWAY, MR. YELTSIN
SAID, "RUSSIA'S FAR NORTH IS SATURATED WITH NUCLEAR OBJECTS." HE
ADDS HE UNDERSTANDS WHY NORWAY IS CONCERNED.
THE NORWEGIAN KING HAS MADE CLEAR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES TOP HIS
AGENDA IN RUSSIA. NORWAY HAS LONG EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE
STATE OF RUSSIA'S DECOMMISSIONED NUCLEAR SUBMARINES.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 90 OLD NUCLEAR SUBS AT NAVY BASES IN RUSSIA'S
FAR NORTH, AND MOST OF THEM ARE STILL CARRYING NUCLEAR FUEL.
THAT IS BECAUSE THE NAVY SAYS IT LACKS MONEY TO UNLOAD THE WASTE.
RUSSIA ALSO LACKS MODERN FACILITIES FOR REPROCESSING SPENT
NUCLEAR FUEL.
FINANCIAL CONCERNS WERE HIGHLIGHTED BY PRESIDENT YELTSIN DURING
HIS KREMLIN MEETING TUESDAY. HE SAID DISMANTLING THE SUBS WILL
BE COSTLY.
/// YELTSIN ACT IN RUSSIAN, ESTABLISH AND FADE ///
"IF THE FINANCIAL QUESTION IS SOLVED IN THE FORM OF CREDITS FROM
THE NORWEGIAN SIDE," MR. YELTSIN SAYS, "WE WILL IMMEDIATELY START
DISMANTLING THE SUBMARINES." THE RUSSIAN LEADER DID NOT SAY
HOW MUCH RUSSIA WOULD NEED. FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV
LATER EXPLAINED ONLY DECOMMISSIONED SUBMARINES WILL BE
DISMANTLED.
//REST OPT// MEANWHILE, NORWAY HAS AGREED TO HELP RUSSIA BUILD A
NEW WASTE-PROCESSING PLANT, WHICH COULD BE IN OPERATION LATER
THIS YEAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/MLK/PCF/MMK
26-May-98 9:53 AM EDT (1353 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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