DATE=1/21/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244464
TITLE=NUCLEAR CUT OFF (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT IS PUSHING FOR A HALT TO THE 
PRODUCTION OF NUCLEAR BOMB-MAKING MATERIAL.  A SENIOR U-S 
OFFICIAL HAS URGED THE GENEVA-BASED UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON 
DISARMAMENT TO NEGOTIATE A TREATY BANNING THE PRODUCTION OF 
WHAT'S KNOWN AS "FISSILE MATERIAL" -- THE PLUTONIUM AND HIGHLY 
ENRICHED URANIUM USED IN MAKING NUCLEAR BOMBS.   LISA SCHLEIN HAS
DETAILS IN THIS REPORT.

TEXT:   THE U-S OFFICIAL SAYS THERE'S NO BETTER WAY TO END THE 
NUCLEAR ARMS RACE THAN BY CUTTING OFF BOMB-MAKING MATERIAL AT ITS
SOURCE. 

THE DIRECTOR OF THE U-S ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT AGENCY, JOHN
HOLUM, SAYS ENDING THE PRODUCTION OF HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM AND 
PLUTONIUM WOULD MAKE THE PROCESS OF NUCLEAR ARMS REDUCTION 
IRREVERSIBLE.  HE TOLD REPORTERS IN GENEVA THE UNITED STATES 
REGARDS A TREATY TO CUT OFF THIS FISSILE NUCLEAR MATERIAL AS A 
KEY STEP TOWARD THE ULTIMATE ELIMINATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS. 

THE AMERICAN ARMS CONTROL OFFICIAL SAYS THE TREATY SHOULD  NOT 
DEAL WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF EXISTING STOCKPILES.   THE UNITED 
STATES AND RUSSIA, HE SAYS, ARE ALREADY ENGAGED IN BILATERAL 
NEGOTIATIONS TO REDUCE THEIR STOCKS.

                         ///HOLUM ACT///

         WE HAVE AGREED TO REMOVE PERMANENTLY FROM MILITARY USE 
         BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA HUNDREDS OF TONS OF
         H-E-U (HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM) AND PLUTONIUM ALREADY.  
         A BIG PART OF THAT WILL BE DONE IN THE FORM OF REMOVING 
         HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM FROM MILITARY PROGRAMS, BLENDING
         IT DOWN AND BURNING IT IN POWER REACTORS. 

                         ///END ACT/// 

SEVERAL COUNTRIES, INCLUDING SOUTH AFRICA, INDIA AND PAKISTAN ARE
CALLING FOR THE STOCKPILES OF THE FIVE DECLARED NUCLEAR POWERS TO
BE PUT ON THE U-N NEGOTIATING TABLE.  MR. HOLUM REJECTS THIS, 
SAYING IT COULD LEGITIMIZE THE NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAMS OF THOSE 
COUNTRIES THAT HAVE NOT YET JOINED THE NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION 
TREATY.  TWO OF THESE COUNTRIES, INDIA AND PAKISTAN, TESTED 
NUCLEAR WEAPONS LAST YEAR.  MR. HOLUM SAYS IN LIGHT OF THOSE 
TESTS, THE UNITED STATES PROPOSES A MORATORIUM ON THE PRODUCTION 
OF FISSILE MATERIAL WHILE NEGOTIATIONS FOR A CUT-OFF TREATY ARE 
GOING ON.

                         ///REST OPT///

                       ///2ND HOLUM ACT///

         ONE VERY USEFUL STEP WOULD BE AN AGREEMENT AMONG 
         COUNTRIES THAT HAVE TESTED NUCLEAR WEAPONS TO STOP THE 
         PRODUCTION OF PLUTONIUM, IN PARTICULAR IN SOUTH ASIA.  

                          ///END ACT///

MR. HOLUM SAYS SUCH AN ACTION WOULD HELP TO PREVENT A RUN-AWAY 
ARMS RACE IN SOUTH ASIA.  HE SAYS THERE'S A VERY STRONG NEED TO 
PUT A CAP ON NUCLEAR BOMB-MAKING MATERIAL IN THAT REGION. 
(SIGNED) 

NEB/LS/PCF 

21-Jan-99 11:54 AM EST (1654 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.