DATE=9/29/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S - UKRAINE NUCLEAR (S-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254467
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United States and Ukraine have signed an
agreement designed to safeguard Ukrainian nuclear
material. Correspondent Nick Simeone reports the
agreement in New York comes just days after a small
amount of Uranium suspected of originating in Ukraine
was intercepted in neighboring Georgia.
TEXT: Ukraine has more than a dozen aging nuclear
reactors and there is great concern about the security
of the uranium used to power them. The agreement
signed by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk highlights
the need to prevent Ukraine's expertise in aerospace
technology and missiles from falling into the hands of
anyone interested in producing weapons of mass
destruction.
Safeguarding nuclear material in former Soviet
republics has long been a U-S priority. US officials
say the interception in Georgia last week of a cache
of low-grade uranium demonstrates the need to prevent
a breakdown in control over nuclear material in the
region.
The agreement signed in New York Wednesday also covers
the control of sensitive missile technology, striving
to ensure that Ukraine's future missile development is
consistent with both countries' commitments to non-
proliferation. (Signed)
NEB/NJS/gm
29-Sep-1999 13:32 PM EDT (29-Sep-1999 1732 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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