DATE=3/6/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227710
TITLE=UKRAINE / ALBRIGHT (L)
BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN
DATELINE=KIEV
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED STATES AND UKRAINE HAVE INITIALLED A PROPOSED
AGREEMENT ON PEACEFUL NUCLEAR COOPERATION. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS
FROM KIEV, WHERE SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT VISITED
FOR SIX HOURS.
TEXT: THE AGREEMENT, INITIALLED DURING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S
BRIEF VISIT TO KIEV, HAS BEEN NEGOTIATED FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR.
ACCORDING TO A STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL, UKRAINE HAS GIVEN THE
UNITED STATES CONFIDENTIAL WRITTEN ASSURANCES THAT IT WILL NOT
SHIP TURBINES FOR IRAN'S BUSHEHR NUCLEAR REACTOR.
THIS ASSURANCE HAS ALLOWED THE TWO COUNTRIES TO INITIAL AN
AGREEMENT THAT WOULD ENABLE THE AMERICAN WESTINGHOUSE FIRM TO
SHIP NUCLEAR REACTORS TO UKRAINE.
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT LEONID KUCHMA CONFIRMS THE DECISION TO CANCEL
THE TURBINE SALE, SAYING THIS WILL COST UKRAINE 45 MILLION (U-S)
DOLLARS.
SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT HAILED THE CANCELLATION:
//// ALBRIGHT ACT ///
THIS DECISION TOOK GREAT STATESMANSHIP. BY CARRYING IT
OUT, UKRAINE WILL CEMENT ITS PLACE IN THE INTERNATIONAL
COALITION TO HALT THE PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION.
/// END ACT ///
THE SALE OF AMERICAN REACTORS TO UKRAINE IS EXPECTED TO BE WORTH
ONE POINT TWO BILLION DOLLARS AND WOULD HELP UKRAINE'S ENERGY
SHORTAGE WHEN THE REMAINING CHERNOBYL REACTORS ARE CLOSED IN TWO
YEARS.
THE AGREEMENT FOR PEACEFUL NUCLEAR COOPERATION IS SIMILAR TO THE
AGREEMENT THE UNITED STATES SIGNED WITH CHINA LAST OCTOBER, AFTER
A SIMILAR PLEDGE TO CUT OFF NUCLEAR COOPERATION WITH IRAN.
IN THE AGREEMENT, WHICH MUST BE RATIFIED BY BOTH COUNTRIES,
UKRAINE PLEDGES NOT TO SHIP NUCLEAR MATERIAL TO A THIRD COUNTRY.
AMERICAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY BELIEVE UKRAINE'S DECISION NOT TO
DEVELOP THE TURBINES WILL SUBSTANTIALLY DELAY IRAN'S EFFORT TO
BUILD THE BUSHEHR REACTOR. THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN CONCERNED
ABOUT IRAN'S ALLEGED EFFORT TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT PLEDGES TO WORK FOR UKRAINE'S
MEMBERSHIP IN THE 29 NATION MISSILE CONTROL TECHNOLOGY REGIME, A
PACT DESIGNED TO COMBAT SPREAD OF BALLISTIC MISSILES. UKRAINE
STILL HAS AT LEAST 232 SHORT RANGE SCUD MISSILES THAT THE UNITED
STATES DOES NOT WANT SHIPPED ABROAD. UKRAINE'S MEMBERSHIP WILL
CLEAR THE WAY FOR THE TWO COUNTRY'S TO COOPERATE IN SPACE
TECHNOLOGY.
MS. ALBRIGHT PROMISES TO ENCOURAGE AMERICAN INVESTMENT IN EASTERN
UKRAINE, IN THE INDUSTRIALIZED CITY OF KHARKOV, WHERE THE
TURBINES FOR IRAN WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN BUILT. HOWEVER, THE
AMERICAN PROMISE TO HELP DEPENDS ON THE RESOLUTION OF TEN TO
FIFTEEN BUSINESS DISPUTES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE STRESSED THE INTEREST OF THE U-S CONGRESS
IN THE TROUBLES OF AMERICAN BUSINESSMAN HERE.
/// 2ND ALBRIGHT ACT ///
I TAKE THEIR CONCERN ABOUT THE BUSINESS CLIMATE HERE
VERY SERIOUSLY, AS DOES THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS. AS
I STRESSED TO PRESIDENT KUCHMA AND HIS MINISTERS, IT IS
IN UKRAINE'S INTEREST TO TAKE THEM MOST SERIOUSLY AS
WELL.
/// END ACT ///
UKRAINE RECEIVES 225 MILLION DOLLARS IN AMERICAN AID, MAKING THIS
COUNTRY THE LARGEST RECIPIENT OF AMERICAN ASSISTANCE OUTSIDE OF
THE MIDDLE EAST. HOWEVER, THE AMERICAN CONGRESS HAS THREATENED
TO CUT OFF THE AID ENTIRELY UNLESS AMERICAN INSESTORS RECEIVE
FAIRER TREATMENT IN UKRAINE. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/KL
06-Mar-98 9:39 AM EST (1439 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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