DATE=11/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241827
TITLE=RUSSIA / NUKES (L-ONLY) (CQ)
BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

 /// EDS: CORRECTS CR 2-241819 -- FIXING NAME OF SENATOR ROBERT 
              KERREY (NOT JOHN KERRY) IN INTRO ///

INTRO:  A PROMINENT U-S SENATOR, DEMOCRAT ROBERT KERREY OF 
NEBRASKA, SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS AN URGENT NATIONAL SECURITY 
INTEREST TO HELP RUSSIA REDUCE ITS NUCLEAR ARSENAL AHEAD OF 
SCHEDULE.  SENATOR KERREY SPOKE TUESDAY IN NEW YORK TO A PRIVATE 
FOREIGN-POLICY INTEREST GROUP.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE 
JOHANSON REPORTS.

TEXT:  SENATOR KERREY WANTS PRESIDENT CLINTON AND THE U-S 
CONGRESS TO AGREE ON ACCELERATING THE DISMANTLING OF U-S NUCLEAR 
MISSILES.  HE SAYS THIS WOULD GIVE RUSSIA THE INCENTIVE IT IS 
LOOKING FOR TO DOWN-SIZE ITS OWN ARSENAL FASTER, BEFORE LOSING 
CONTROL OF IT.

THE START-ONE ARMS CONTROL AGREEMENT OBLIGES EACH SIDE, THE 
UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA, TO CUT ITS ARSENAL TO SIX-THOUSAND 
[WARHEADS] -- MANY MORE, SENATOR KERRY MAINTAINS, THAN ARE NEEDED
FOR SECURITY.   HE RECOMMENDS CUTTING THE WEAPONS AT A MORE RAPID
PACE, TO A LEVEL OF ABOUT TWO-THOUSAND.

THE U-S SENATOR BELIEVES THE RUSSIANS ARE CAPABLE OF LAUNCHING A 
MISSILE OR TWO AT THE UNITED STATES ACCIDENTALLY -- DUE PERHAPS 
TO A BREAKDOWN IN DISCIPLINE OR COMMUNICATION WITHIN WHAT HE 
DESCRIBES AS RUSSIA'S UNDER-PAID AND POORLY-EQUIPPED COMMAND 
STRUCTURE.  HE DRAWS A SCENARIO OF A PEACEFUL SCIENTIFIC ROCKET 
LAUNCH BY A WESTERN COUNTRY, MISTAKENLY PERCEIVED IN RUSSIA AS AN
ATTACK.

SENATOR KERREY SAYS RUSSIA AT THE MOMENT IS TOO DISORGANIZED 
POLITICALLY AND MILITARILY TO SUSTAIN A HUGE ARSENAL, WITH 
NUCLEAR WARHEADS ON HAIR-TRIGGER ALERT:

                    /// FIRST KERREY ACT ///

         IF THE GOAL OF THE POLICY IS TO REDUCE THE DANGER TO THE
         PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IT SEEMS TO ME 
         IT MAKES  NO  SENSE FOR US TO MAINTAIN A LEVEL THAT 
         REQUIRES THE RUSSIANS TO HAVE WEAPONS FAR BEYOND THEIR 
         CAPACITY TO CONTROL -- ESPECIALLY IF UNAUTHORIZED LAUNCH
         IS A NEW DANGER.

                         /// END ACT ///

SENATOR KERREY SAYS NOW IS THE TIME TO PRESS FOR DEEPER WEAPONS 
CUTS, AND FOR THE UNITED STATES TO HELP ECONOMICALLY-STRAPPED 
RUSSIA PAY FOR IT.  HE SAYS RELATIONS CURRENTLY ARE GOOD BETWEEN 
THE TWO GOVERNMENTS, BUT IT MAY NOT LAST.

                    /// SECOND KERREY ACT ///

         WE KNOW WHAT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA IS LIKE TODAY.
         WE CAN PREDICT BUT WE CAN  NOT  KNOW WHAT IT WILL BE 
         LIKE [IN] A YEAR OR TWO OR FIVE OR 10 YEARS FROM NOW.  
         WE DO  NOT  KNOW WHETHER THE CIRCUMSTANCES FOR REDUCING 
         NUCLEAR DANGERS WILL BE AS FAVORABLE THEN AS THEY ARE 
         NOW.

                         /// END ACT ///

SENATOR KERREY ALSO FEARS THAT RUSSIAN NUCLEAR WEAPONS MIGHT FALL
INTO THE HANDS OF ROGUE GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS, WHETHER THEY BE 
TERRORIST STATES OR A DISGRUNTLED RUSSIAN SOLDIER.  HE SAYS 
UNCERTAINTY PERVADES RUSSIA -- LIKE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO 
HAPPEN.

SENATOR KERREY --  A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE FOR THE U-S PRESIDENCY IN
THE YEAR TWO-THOUSAND -- SPOKE AT THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN 
RELATIONS.   (SIGNED)

NEB/NY/EJ/LSF/WFR/WTW 

17-Nov-98 9:24 PM EST (0224 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.