Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=07/15/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=RUSSIA / MISSILE REAX (L-O)

NUMBER=2-278250

BYLINE=REBECCA SANTANA

DATELINE=MOSCOW

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Russian officials have criticized the United States for testing a key component of its nuclear missile shield, which Russia strongly opposes. V-O-A's Rebecca Santana has more on the story from Moscow.

TEXT: A spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the United States, by testing part of their proposed national missile defense shield, is threatening all of the nuclear disarmament treaties.

On Saturday, the United States launched an interceptor missile at a mock nuclear warhead traveling through space. According to Defense Department officials, the missile successfully destroyed the mock warhead. They called it an important step toward building a missile defense shield.

Russian Foreign Ministry Chief Spokesman Alexander Yakovenko came out with some strong words of criticism of the test. He said the missile launch will put the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty at risk and that Russia believes it is vital to maintain the treaty.

Moscow has long criticized Washington for its plans to build a national missile defense system, something the United States says it needs to protect itself from rogue states like North Korea or Iran.

Russia maintains that the 1972 A-B-M treaty, which bans defense weapons systems like the national missile defense, is the cornerstone to nuclear disarmament. They say that by building the treaty, the United States would be jeopardizing not just the A-B-M treaty, but other agreements such as START-1 that also promote disarmament.

President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have criticized the U-S plans, although in recent months Mr. Putin has indicated that he might be open to negotiation on the issue. (SIGNED)

NEB/RS/ALW/RAE