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DATE=3/12/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246571
TITLE=CONGRESS-RUSSIA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
//////EDITORS NOTE:   THE DELEGATION LEFT WASHINGTON FRIDAY 
AFTERNOON. TALKS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, SUNDAY AND MONDAY.  THE 
DELEGATION RETURNS TUESDAY////
INTRO:    NINE U-S CONGRESSMEN ARE  IN MOSCOW THIS WEEKEND TO 
DISCUSS SECURITY ISSUES WITH MEMBERS OF RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT (THE 
DUMA).   V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT 
MISSILE DEFENSES.
TEXT:    PENNSYLVANIA REPUBLICAN CURT WELDON SAYS THE AMERICANS 
ARE TAKING A TOUGH MESSAGE.  THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT AN INCREASING
NUCLEAR THREAT AROUND THE WORLD.  AND THEY SAY THE RUSSIANS 
SHOULD BE WORRIED TOO.
                       ////WELDON ACT////
         I WANT THE RUSSIANS TO SEE THE SAME KIND OF FINDINGS 
         THAT WE ARE SEEING.
                      ////// END ACT///////
THE CONGRESSMEN ARE NOT TRAVELING ALONE.   THEY ARE ACCOMPANIED 
BY MEMBERS OF A HIGH LEVEL U-S COMMISSION SET UP TO STUDY THE 
NATURE OF THE NUCLEAR THREAT, AND PREPARE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE
LEGISLATURE.
MR. WELDON SAYS THEY WILL BRIEF RUSSIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS IN 
PRIVATE.
                    ///////WELDON ACT///////
         OUR HOPE IS TO PROVIDE SOME DEGREE OF TRANSPARENCY AND 
         SOME DEGREE OF UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE THREATS ARE 
         THREATS WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IN AMERICA, AND THAT RUSSIA
         SHOULD UNDERSTAND IT IS IN THEIR BEST INTEREST TO DEAL 
         WITH US IN A PRO-ACTIVE, POSITIVE, COLLABORATIVE WAY 
                      .///////END ACT//////
THE COMMISSION SAYS THE NUCLEAR THREAT IS GROWING AT A FASTER 
RATE THAN IMAGINED JUST A DECADE OR SO AGO.   THE PANEL'S 1998 
REPORT FOCUSES ON WEAPONS PROGRAMS IN NORTH KOREA AND IRAN, AND 
WARNS RAMPANT PROLIFERATION COULD PUT NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY IN THE 
WRONG HANDS.
CONGRESS IS RESPONDING WITH LEGISLATION THAT COMMITS THE UNITED 
STATES TO BUILD A NATIONAL NUCLEAR MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM..   
THERE IS STRONG OPPOSITION IN MOSCOW.  AND MR. WELDON SAYS HIS 
MAIN OBJECTIVEIS TO SELL THE IDEA TO HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPARTS.
                    ////////WELDON ACT////// 
          I WANT THEM TO KNOW THIS IS NOT ABOUT SCORING A 
         STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE OVER RUSSIA.  THIS IS NOT ABOUT 
         BACKING RUSSIA INTO A CORNER.  THIS IS NOT ABOUT 
         RECREATING THE COLD WAR.  
                       //////END ACT/////
THE SENATE WILL TAKE UP THE MISSILE DEFENSE BILL ON MONDAY. THE 
HOUSE WILL FOLLOW LATER IN THE WEEK.  (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
12-Mar-99 5:55 PM EST (2255 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.