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DATE=1/22/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244542
TITLE=U-S / RUSSIA (L)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT HAS NO PLANS TO WITHDRAW FROM 
THE 1972 ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE TREATY, BUT NEVER THE LESS, PLANS
TO GO AHEAD WITH DEVELOPMENT OF A MISSILE DEFENSE PROGRAM.  FROM 
THE STATE DEPARTMENT, VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS.
TEXT:  SPEAKING TO REPORTERS IN WASHINGTON, SECRETARY OF STATE 
MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAID THE UNITED STATES IS COMMITTED TO THE 
BASIC ASPECTS OF THE ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE (A-B-M) TREATY.
THE 1972 TREATY SETS LIMITS ON THE NUMBER OF SITES AND WHAT TYPE 
OF SYSTEMS EITHER SIDE CAN DEPLOY TO INTERCEPT INCOMING MISSILES.
AT A NEWS CONFERENCE WITH SLOVAK FOREIGN MINISTER EDUARD KUKAN, 
MS. ALBRIGHT SAID THE A-B-M TREATY WAS THE BASIS OF AN ARMS 
CONTROL REGIME THAT HAS EXISTED FOR DECADES. 
BUT ECHOING THE CONCERNS OUTLINED EARLIER THIS WEEK BY PRESIDENT 
CLINTON, MS. ALBRIGHT SAID THE UNITED STATES MUST BE ABLE TO 
DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST NEW THREATS.
                       // ALBRIGHT ACT //
         WE HAVE MANY NEW THREATS WITH WHICH TO DEAL, AND WE NEED
         TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO FULFILL OUR 
         RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING OUR OWN DEFENSE.  BUT THERE 
         NEED TO BE NO CONCERNS ABOUT WITHDRAWAL (FROM ABM), 
         THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE POSSIBILITY FOR EITHER COUNTRY
         TO WITHDRAW FROM THE ABM IF IT SO DECIDES FOR ITS 
         SUPREME NATIONAL INTEREST. 
                         // END ACT // 
ALARMED BY THE PROSPECT OF COUNTRIES LIKE NORTH KOREA DEVELOPING 
MISSILES THAT COULD THREATEN THE UNITED STATES, PRESIDENT CLINTON
HAS PROPOSED WORK ON NEW SYSTEMS TO COMBAT THE THREAT. 
SOME RUSSIAN OFFICIALS HAVE EXPRESSED SUSPICION ABOUT U-S NEEDS 
TO ALTER THE ABM TREATY.  RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINSTER IGOR IVANOV 
SAYS HIS COUNTRY IS NOT READY FOR ANY AMENDMENTS. 
SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT HAS PHONED MR. IVANOV TO DISCUSS THE 
ISSUE AND PLANS TO OUTLINE THE U-S POSITION MONDAY DURING A STOP 
IN MOSCOW.
HER TALKS IN RUSSIA ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON THE SITUATION 
IN KOSOVO, IRAQ AND THE RUSSIAN ECONOMIC CRISIS.  FOLLOWING HER 
VISIT TO MOSCOW, SHE WILL BE MAKING STOPS IN CAIRO, SAUDI ARABIA,
LONDON AND PARIS FOR MORE TALKS ON KOSOVO AND IRAQ.  (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/PT
22-Jan-99 6:50 PM EST (2350 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.