DATE=9/2/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA/US MISSILE REACTION (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-266076
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian political and military leaders are
describing President Bill Clinton's decision to put plans
for a missile defense shield on hold as a "constructive"
decision that will help reinforce world stability. Moscow
correspondent Eve Conant reports Russia has consistently
opposed the missile shield plan, arguing that it could
trigger a new arms race.
TEXT: Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed President
Clinton's announcement that a decision to develop a U-S
national missile defense system would be put on hold.
A statement released by the Kremlin quotes President Putin
as saying "Mr. Clinton's decision.was a well-thought out
and responsible step."
Russia has consistently opposed U-S plans for building the
missile defense system. Moscow's military and political
leadership has argued that developing such a defense would
violate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic-Missile treaty, which many
Russians see as the cornerstone of all arms agreements.
The crux of the A-B-M treaty is a pledge by both the United
States and Russia to leave themselves vulnerable to a
nuclear attack. The assumption is that the assurance of
mutual destruction would serve as a deterrent to a
launching a nuclear strike.
Russia argues that the proposed missile defense shield
would alter this so-called "balance of terror", leading to
a new, more dangerous arms race. President Putin has
threatened to pull Russia out of all arms accords if the
United States moves ahead with deployment.
During their first summit in June, Presidents Clinton and
Putin clashed over the missile defense system proposal.
Russia suggested that a better idea might be to build a
non-strategic system designed to counter the threat of what
are sometimes called "rogue states". But Clinton
administration officials largely ignored the Russian
proposal.
The Kremlin statement quoted Mr. Putin as saying
President Clinton's decision not to deploy the missile
shield would "no doubt lead to strengthening stability and
security in the whole world." The statement added, "This
will also strengthen the authority of the United States in
the eyes of the international community."
Russia's military leadership also welcomed the decision as
a "constructive" choice. Other political leaders described
Mr. Clinton's announcement as "reasonable." However, the
Kremlin announcement noted that Mr. Putin does not
believe Mr. Clinton's choice signals that Moscow's and
Washington's approach to the ABM problem was now, in the
Russian leader's words, "fully identical." (Signed)
NEB/EC/PFH
02-Sep-2000 05:54 AM EDT (02-Sep-2000 0954 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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