DATE=12/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243540
TITLE=RUSSIA MISSILES (L)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: RUSSIA HAS BEGUN ACTIVATING A NEW GENERATION OF
NUCLEAR-CAPABLE BALLISTIC MISSILES. FROM MOSCOW, CORRESPONDENT
PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS THE DEPLOYMENT IS A SIGNIFICANT
ACHIEVEMENT FOR RUSSIA'S CASH-STRAPPED ARMED FORCES.
TEXT: RUSSIA'S DEFENSE MINISTER IGOR SERGEYEV INAUGURATED THE
FIRST REGIMENT OF 10 NEW "TOPOL-M" MISSILES (SUNDAY) AT A
MILITARY BASE 700-KILOMETERS SOUTHEAST OF MOSCOW. THE TOPOL IS A
LIGHTWEIGHT, SOLID FUEL MISSILE DESIGNED TO BE FIRED FROM A
VEHICLE.
NEWS AGENCIES QUOTE MR. SERGEYEV AS SAYING THE TOPOL GIVES RUSSIA
SUFFICIENT NUCLEAR DETERRENCE UNTIL THE WORLD GETS RID OF NUCLEAR
WEAPONS.
THE SINGLE-WARHEAD TOPOL IS EXPECTED TO BECOME THE MAINSTAY OF
RUSSIA'S STRATEGIC MISSILE FORCES, REPLACING THE HEAVIER,
MULTIPLE-WARHEAD VARIETY.
MINISTER SERGEYEV SAYS BRINGING THE TOPOL-M ON LINE IS A MAJOR
ACHIEVEMENT AT THIS TIME OF SEVERE FUNDING SHORTAGES.
A DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER WAS EARLIER QUOTED AS SAYING LESS THAN
HALF THE COST OF DEPLOYING THE MISSILES HAD BEEN MET. THE
ITAR-TASS NEWS AGENCY QUOTED DEPUTY MINISTER ALEXANDER KOSOVAN AS
SAYING A WAGE BILL TOTALLING THE EQUIVALENT OF
ONE-POINT-THREE-MILLION DOLLARS IS STILL UNPAID.
OFFICIALS SAY ONE WAY RUSSIA CAN SAVE MONEY ON SECURITY IS
RATIFICATION OF THE START-TWO NUCLEAR ARMS TREATY BY THE DUMA, OR
LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT. START-TWO RATIFICATION COULD UNLOCK
FUNDS TO HELP RUSSIA WITH THE EXPENSIVE TASK OF DISMANTLING ITS
AGING NUCLEAR ARSENAL TO MEET THE TREATY'S TERMS.
DEFENSE MINISTER SERGEYEV HAS URGED THE DUMA TO PROMPTLY APPROVE
START-TWO, BUT LAWMAKERS HAVE STALLED CONSIDERATION FOR SEVERAL
YEARS.
EXPERTS SAY RETIRING OLDER MISSILES WOULD ALLOW RUSSIA'S MILITARY
STRATEGISTS TO CONCENTRATE LIMITED BUDGET RESOURCES ON THE
TOPOL-M, WHICH IS NOT SUBJECT TO CUTS UNDER START-TWO, BUT
WHICH IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO MEET THE COUNTRY'S SECURITY NEEDS.
(SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/RAE
27-Dec-98 1:39 PM EST (1839 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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