Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE= 3/13/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= U-S/RUSSIA (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-287508

BYLINE= ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE=PENTAGON

CONTENT=

INTRO: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says the United States and Russia are likely to adopt a legally-binding agreement formalizing plans to sharply reduce their arsenals of long-range nuclear weapons. V-O-A Pentagon Correspondent Alex Belida reports Mr. Rumsfeld's disclosure followed talks with visiting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov.

TEXT: Russian officials have in the past made no secret of their desire for a formal arms reduction agreement. Now, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld says President Bush is willing to go along with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in meeting that goal.

///RUMSFELD ACTUALITY///

The two Presidents have agreed that they would like to have something that would go beyond their two Presidencies so some sort of a document of that type is certainly a likelihood.

///END ACTUALITY///

Speaking at a joint news conference at the Pentagon with Mr. Rumsfeld, Russian Defense Minister Ivanov says he hopes work on the document will be finished in time to have it signed at a planned Bush-Putin summit in May.

But Mr. Ivanov indicates Russia and the United States have yet to agree on a key issue --- whether any of the warheads earmarked for reduction will be destroyed or merely stored, as the United States prefers.

The Russian official spoke through an interpreter.

///IVANOV INTERPRETER ACTUALITY///

We will need to dispose of some of nuclear warheads, no matter if we want it or not.

///END ACTUALITY///

Mr. Ivanov hints that Russia might be flexible on the issue, allowing some warheads to be stored for a certain period. But he says eventually they will have to be destroyed along with their delivery systems.

For his part, Mr. Rumsfeld sought to ease Russian concerns about the latest U-S Nuclear Posture Review, portions of which have been leaked to the news media and which indicate Russia is still viewed as a potential threat.

Mr. Rumsfeld says Russian officials have been briefed on the document, which he says is not an operational or targeting plan. He says the United States wants a new cooperative and non-confrontational relationship with Russia.

///REST OPTIONAL///

///RUMSFELD ACTUALITY///

The United States seeks a cooperative relationship with Russia that moves away from a mutual assured destruction of the past and because of this new relationship, the United States can prudently reduce the size of its operationally deployed strategic nuclear forces by some two-thirds.

///END ACTUALITY///

In addition to nuclear issues, the two officials also discussed the war on terrorism, including U-S plans to provide counter-terrorist training to troops in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. The goal is to prepare them for operations against al-Qaida and other terrorists in a remote gorge bordering Chechnya.

Mr. Ivanov makes clear it is a sensitive issue for Russia.

///IVANOV INTERPRETER ACTUALITY///

All that is taking place just 10-to-20 kilometers kilometers from the Russian state border so we cannot just sit and watch those activities indifferently.

///END ACTUALITY///

But Mr. Rumsfeld says the United States has no plans to send any American troops into the remote border area. He also says only a modest number of military trainers will be dispatched to Georgia. (Signed)

NEB/BEL/KBK