DATE=11/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241827
TITLE=RUSSIA / NUKES (L-ONLY) (CQ)
BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
/// EDS: CORRECTS CR 2-241819 -- FIXING NAME OF SENATOR ROBERT
KERREY (NOT JOHN KERRY) IN INTRO ///
INTRO: A PROMINENT U-S SENATOR, DEMOCRAT ROBERT KERREY OF
NEBRASKA, SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS AN URGENT NATIONAL SECURITY
INTEREST TO HELP RUSSIA REDUCE ITS NUCLEAR ARSENAL AHEAD OF
SCHEDULE. SENATOR KERREY SPOKE TUESDAY IN NEW YORK TO A PRIVATE
FOREIGN-POLICY INTEREST GROUP. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE
JOHANSON REPORTS.
TEXT: SENATOR KERREY WANTS PRESIDENT CLINTON AND THE U-S
CONGRESS TO AGREE ON ACCELERATING THE DISMANTLING OF U-S NUCLEAR
MISSILES. HE SAYS THIS WOULD GIVE RUSSIA THE INCENTIVE IT IS
LOOKING FOR TO DOWN-SIZE ITS OWN ARSENAL FASTER, BEFORE LOSING
CONTROL OF IT.
THE START-ONE ARMS CONTROL AGREEMENT OBLIGES EACH SIDE, THE
UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA, TO CUT ITS ARSENAL TO SIX-THOUSAND
[WARHEADS] -- MANY MORE, SENATOR KERRY MAINTAINS, THAN ARE NEEDED
FOR SECURITY. HE RECOMMENDS CUTTING THE WEAPONS AT A MORE RAPID
PACE, TO A LEVEL OF ABOUT TWO-THOUSAND.
THE U-S SENATOR BELIEVES THE RUSSIANS ARE CAPABLE OF LAUNCHING A
MISSILE OR TWO AT THE UNITED STATES ACCIDENTALLY -- DUE PERHAPS
TO A BREAKDOWN IN DISCIPLINE OR COMMUNICATION WITHIN WHAT HE
DESCRIBES AS RUSSIA'S UNDER-PAID AND POORLY-EQUIPPED COMMAND
STRUCTURE. HE DRAWS A SCENARIO OF A PEACEFUL SCIENTIFIC ROCKET
LAUNCH BY A WESTERN COUNTRY, MISTAKENLY PERCEIVED IN RUSSIA AS AN
ATTACK.
SENATOR KERREY SAYS RUSSIA AT THE MOMENT IS TOO DISORGANIZED
POLITICALLY AND MILITARILY TO SUSTAIN A HUGE ARSENAL, WITH
NUCLEAR WARHEADS ON HAIR-TRIGGER ALERT:
/// FIRST KERREY ACT ///
IF THE GOAL OF THE POLICY IS TO REDUCE THE DANGER TO THE
PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IT SEEMS TO ME
IT MAKES NO SENSE FOR US TO MAINTAIN A LEVEL THAT
REQUIRES THE RUSSIANS TO HAVE WEAPONS FAR BEYOND THEIR
CAPACITY TO CONTROL -- ESPECIALLY IF UNAUTHORIZED LAUNCH
IS A NEW DANGER.
/// END ACT ///
SENATOR KERREY SAYS NOW IS THE TIME TO PRESS FOR DEEPER WEAPONS
CUTS, AND FOR THE UNITED STATES TO HELP ECONOMICALLY-STRAPPED
RUSSIA PAY FOR IT. HE SAYS RELATIONS CURRENTLY ARE GOOD BETWEEN
THE TWO GOVERNMENTS, BUT IT MAY NOT LAST.
/// SECOND KERREY ACT ///
WE KNOW WHAT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA IS LIKE TODAY.
WE CAN PREDICT BUT WE CAN NOT KNOW WHAT IT WILL BE
LIKE [IN] A YEAR OR TWO OR FIVE OR 10 YEARS FROM NOW.
WE DO NOT KNOW WHETHER THE CIRCUMSTANCES FOR REDUCING
NUCLEAR DANGERS WILL BE AS FAVORABLE THEN AS THEY ARE
NOW.
/// END ACT ///
SENATOR KERREY ALSO FEARS THAT RUSSIAN NUCLEAR WEAPONS MIGHT FALL
INTO THE HANDS OF ROGUE GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS, WHETHER THEY BE
TERRORIST STATES OR A DISGRUNTLED RUSSIAN SOLDIER. HE SAYS
UNCERTAINTY PERVADES RUSSIA -- LIKE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO
HAPPEN.
SENATOR KERREY -- A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE FOR THE U-S PRESIDENCY IN
THE YEAR TWO-THOUSAND -- SPOKE AT THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN
RELATIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/EJ/LSF/WFR/WTW
17-Nov-98 9:24 PM EST (0224 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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