What was new on START Web site?
February, 2000
February 25, 2000
Inge Sellevag, a reporter of Norwegian Bergens Tidende newspaper, published a series of articles on joint United States-Norwegian intelligence project at Vardo, 40 miles from the Russian border. His reports got a lot of press coverage all over the world. According to the U.S. and Norwegian independent experts, the primary purpose of the new radar is not monitoring space debris at all, as Norway and the United States officials claim (this radar, named as HAVE STARE, was developed by Raytheon Systems and originally deployed in California). "...The Russian military believes that the Norwegian radar is meant to monitor their ballistic missiles and that the radar was developed as part of the national missile defense...," Prof. Anatoli Diakov said in an interview to The New York Times correspondent: Russians Challenge U.S. Over Radar in Norway, (by Elizabeth Becker, The New York Times, Tuesday, February 22, 2000).Today's feature articles include:
In future, we plan to continue the Vardo radar story. See also:
- Antimissile Front In The Northern Norway, - in Russian, (by Anatoli Diakov and Theodore Postol, Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, N 7, February 25 - March 2, 2000)
- "Star Wars" - Near The Russian Border, - in Russian, (by Alexei Smirnov, Novyye Izvestiya, February 22, 2000, pp. 1,2)
"...As a result, in addition to being unable to resolve any real problems facing the ABM treaty, the demarcation protocols create additional problems for the START nuclear weapons reduction process. The history of the demarcation agreement gives us one more example of the deterioration of mechanisms that were designed during the Cold War to solve arms control problems. It also shows that the US-Soviet pattern of arms control negotiations does not work in the context of the US-Russian relationship...", (A History of the ABM Treaty in Russia, by Pavel Podvig, Program on New Approaches to Russian Security Policy Memo Series, Memo No. 109, February 2000). See also: The Prospects for ABM Treaty Modification, (by Alexander Pikayev, Program on New Approaches to Russian Security Policy Memo Series, Memo No. 108, February 2000)
- The Mystery at Vardo, (by Inge Sellevag, The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, March/April 2000, Vol. 56, No. 2, pp. 26-29)
- The Target Is Russia, (by Theodore A. Postol, The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, March/April 2000, Vol. 56, No. 2, pp. 30-35)
- The AN/FPS-129 HAVE STARE radar system, (PDF format), Raytheon Systems Company, - this page previously located at: http://www.raytheon.com/rsc/ses/spr/spr_hvs/spr_hvs.htm Apparently, an appropriate link to the HAVE STARE radar page has disappeared from the list of military systems, developed by Raytheon.
- Norway Debates US-Built Radar, (by Doug Mellgren, Associated Press, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2000; 8:36 p.m. EST)
- News From Norway - North Korean Border, - in Russian, (by Trofim Lobachyov, Gazeta.Ru, February 23, 2000)
- Russia Objects To U.S. Radar Installation In Norway, (by Agence France Presse, Russia Today, February 22, 2000)
- Are Russian Missiles Space Debris?, - in Russian, (by Nikolay Zimin, Segodnya, February 23, 2000)
- New York Times: Russian Concerns About The Intelligence Purposes Of The U.S. Radar in Norway Are Confirmed By A Series Of Facts, - in Russian, (RBC News, February 22, 2000)
Vice Chair of the Russian State Duma Vladimir Lukin on START II and ABM Treaties: "...We should refuse old MIRVs, which we unable to produce anyway, in a new Treaty. At the same time we should negotiate a framework START III agreement with the United States, that would include a provision permitting multiple warheads on newly produced "Topol-M" missiles, depending on development of the U.S. national missile defense. In other words, if the ABM Treaty remains in force, MIRVed warheads are not necessery within the frames of START III. If the United States deploys national missile defense system, we need to have an advantage, first of all at the expense of MIRVs on our new missiles...": External Verges of Security, - in Russian, (by Vladimir Malyovanny, Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, N 7, February 25 - March 2, 2000)
Coyle's report, criticising the current schedule of missile programs is available on the Web: Missile Defense and Related Programs, (Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) FY'99 Annual Report submitted to Congress February, 2000)
In November's and December's issues of Arms Control Today:
Recent newspaper articles on NMD debates include:
- How a Limited National Missile Defense Would Impact the ABM Treaty, (by Lisbeth Gronlund and George Lewis, November 1999)
- NATO Ministers Skeptical of U.S. NMD Plans, (by Wade Boese, December, 1999)
- National Missile Defense Review Committee Report (text of the 'Welch Report'), (November, 1999)
- National Missile Defense: Collision in Progress, (by John Steinbruner, November, 1999)
- Just Say 'No', (by Spurgeon M. Keeny, Jr., November, 1999)
- Russian Officials Continue to Oppose Changes to ABM Treaty, (by J. Peter Scoblic, November, 1999)
- NMD Program Again Criticized by Independent Review Panel, (by Wade Boese, November, 1999)
- After Stumble, 'HEU Deal' Back on Track, (by Philipp C. Bleek, December, 1999)
- U.S. and Soviet/Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces, (November, 1999)
- Watch For Missile Defense To Become A European Conundrum, (by Ivo H. Daalder and Philip H. Gordon, International Herald Tribune, February 23, 2000)
- Missiles And Gnashing Teeth, (by Helle Bering, The Washington Times, February 23, 2000)
- Missile Risks Rising, (by Frank Gaffney Jr., The Washington Times, February 22, 2000)
- Delaying Missile Defense: Not a Tidal Wave, But a Definite Tide, (Council For a Livable World Special Report, February 16, 2000)
- The Wrong Plan, (by Richard L. Garwin, The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, March/April 2000, Vol. 56, No. 2, pp.36-41)
Sergey Ivanov, the secretary of Russia's Security Council, who recently met with President Clinton in Washington, is optimistic about START II ratification by the State Duma: "...We have now different Duma, this factor should also play a positive role in ratification..."
- Surprises Are Not Expected, (by Yuri Sigov, Novyye Izvestiya, February 22, 2000 г., p. 2)
- Clinton Wishes To Get Acquainted, - in Russian, (by Nikolai Zimin, Segodnya, February 22, 2000)
- Russian Security Advisor Flies Home After Washington Talks, (by Agence France Presse, Russia Today, February 20, 2000)
- Groundwork Is Laid For Possible Summit. Clinton, Putin May Meet If Russian Wins, (by Bradley Graham and Steven Mufson, The Washington Post, February 19, 2000)
- The Secretary of the Security Cuncil Met With Clinton and Handed Him A Letter From Putin - in Russian, (Lenta.Ru, February 19, 2000)
The Senate voted unanimously yesterday to require President Clinton to certify that Russia's space agency has not aided Iran's missile program before the United States can help pay for Russia's contribution to the international space station. Unlike a version of the bill passed earlier by the House, the Senate bill did not require the administration to impose broad sanctions on Russia or other nations that supply missiles or weapons technology to Iran. The White House threatened to veto the House bill, which passed by 419-0 last September, saying it complicated international arms nonproliferation efforts. But administration officials said yesterday they were satisfied with changes in the Senate bill, which passed 98-0. The Senate bill directs the president to submit reports to Congress every six months identifying foreign persons or countries that transfer weapons material or technology to Iran and authorizes him to impose sanctions if he so chooses. Meanwhile, Gazeta.Ru reported a week ago: "...The visit of Sergei Ivanov, the secretary of Russia's Security Council, to the United States...suddenly became a turning point for Russian-Iranian relations. The thing is Ivanov, reportedly, admitted the problem of Moscow-Tehran cooperation in nuclear sphere. If this is the case, Minatom is going to loose billions of dollars..."
"...The world is facing a nuclear crisis. Unfortunately, U.S. policy has had a good deal to do with creating it..." (A Nuclear Crisis, by Jimmy Carter, The Washington Post, Wednesday, February 23, 2000; Page A21)
- Senate Puts Condition on Space Station Aid, (by Steven Mufson and Eric Pianin, (The Washington Post, Friday, February 25, 2000; Page A11)
- Senate Targets Russian Aid to Iran, (by Jim Abrams, Associated Press, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2000; 5:35 p.m. EST)
- Senate Takes up Iran Sanctions Bill, (by Associated Press, February 23, 2000)
- Russia Will Refuse Provide Iran With Peaceful Atom, - in Russian (by Andrew Matyash, Gazeta.Ru, February 19, 2000)
According to Segodnya, Russian Minatom is close to implementation of "the project of the century - building a super modern facility on reprocessing and indefinite storage of nuclear wastes on the Russian territory: Burial Of the First Rank. Nuclear Wastes of All Of The World May Find Their Place in Russia, - in Russian, (by Yekaterina Kaz and Alexander Mikhailov, Segodnya, February 23, 2000)
According to ITAR-TASS information agency, production of plutonium in a Siberian reactor cannot be stopped despite an accord to halt all manufacture of the radioactive substance by this year (Russia To Continue Producing Plutonium In Siberia, by Agence France Presse, Russia Today, February 23, 2000). See also: A Trench. America Found A New Method to Control Russian Plutonium, (by Mariya Ignatova, Izvestiya, February 21, 2000)
Colonel-General Valeri Manilov, First Deputy Head of the General Staff clarifies the most significant provisions of the new military doctrine: The Doctrine Exist - Hopefully, There Will Be No War, - in Russian, (Rossiiskaya Gazeta, February 23, 2000, p. 6). See also: Russia To Use Nuclear Arms If Existence Threatened, (by Reuters, Russia Today, February 24, 2000)
One of the founders of the Soviet Space Program a prominent scientists Academician Vladimir Utkin died, (A Conceptual School of Vladimir Utkin, - in Russian, by Stanislav Voronin and Yuri Faikov, Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, N 7, February 25 - March 2, 2000). Pravda newspaper published a series of interviews with Vladimir Utkin:
Today at the English START Forum: the most powerful test at Novaya Zemlya. At the Russian START Forum: Vardo radar, control of ballistic missiles with conventional warheads and other issues.
- It's Majesty "Satan", - in Russian (Pravda, February 19, 2000)
- A Climb To the Space Olympus, - in Russian, (Pravda, February 18, 2000)
February 19, 2000
Welcome to join the English START Forum - a new discussion area of the START Web Site. We hope that you'll find the discussions productive and helpful. Today at the Russian START Forum: Nikolay Sokov on the concept of national security and Russian nuclear policy, and other issues.A senior Russian security official who met with President Clinton today appeared to open the door to meeting the administration's desire to deploy a limited national missile defense system. Sergei B. Ivanov, the head of Russia's national security council, said Moscow was prepared to discuss allowing the United States to move its current authorized site, of a radar and interceptors in North Dakota, to another location (Russian Aide Opens Door a Bit to U.S. Bid for Missile Defense, by Jane Perlez, The New York Times, February 19, 2000). It is notable, that Newsweek reported recently after a recent visit of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to Moscow, there's been more progress in behind-the-scenes talks on arms-control issues than either side has publicly acknowledged, (Arms Control, Behind the Scenes, Newsweek, February 14, 2000). See also a briefing of Sergei Ivanov, the head of Russia's national security council before foreign ambassadors, February 15, 2000 (in Russian) and our special section: ABM Treaty Modification: Should Russia Agree?
The State Duma decided Thursday to hold hearings on START II and ABM Treaties in March, 2000 (in Russian). More detailed consideration of the START II is planned for June, 2000 (One Should Be Examined First, Only Than - Ratified, by Alexander Lin'kov and Sergei Trusevich, Parlamentskaya Gazeta, February 18, 2000)
Russian experts on prospects of START II, START III, ABM Treaties and possible ways to overcome the nuclear disarmament deadlock:
- The Ministry Of Defense Is Not Interested In START II And START III, - in Russian (by Leonid Ivashov, Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, N 6, February 18-24, 2000, p.3)
- Nuclear Shield. The Price Is Negotiable, (by Oleg Odnokolenko, Segodnya, February 16, 2000) - an interview with Alexander Piskunov, a member of the State Duma and a participant of START I and START II negotiations,
- Russian General Slams U.S. On Missile Plan, (by Reuters, Russia Today, February 15, 2000)
- Missile Umbrella For The Statue Of Freedom, (by Vladimir Dvorkin, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, February 15, 2000, p. 7)
The Pentagon is facing undue pressure to meet an "artificial" deadline for recommending whether to deploy the national missile defense system, according to Pentagon's director of operational testing and evaluation, Philip E. Coyle III, who said the current timetable disregarded enormous technical problems.:
Other experts come to similar conclusions:
- Some Sound Defense Advice, (The Washington Post, February 18, 2000, p.22)
- Missile Decision: Go Slow, (Los Angeles Times, February 18, 2000, Pg. 18)
- Missile Test Is Rushed, Pentagon Official Says, (by Elizabeth Becker, The New York Times, February 15, 2000)
However, there are also supporters of the opposite opinion:
- Forced Dash To A Missile Defense, (The New York Times, February 17, 2000)
- Washington's Pursuit Of Missile Defense Drives Wedge In NATO, (by Joseph Fitchett, International Herald Tribune, February 15, 2000)
- Europe Looks For Reassurance As U.S. Pursues A Missile Shield, by Jane Perlez, The New York Times, February 11, 2000)
- Anti-Missile Defense Dawdling, (by Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., The Washington Times, February 15, 2000)
- A November Missile Defense, (The Wall Street Journal, February 15, 2000)
Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott will discuss U.S. plans for building a national missile defense during talks with Chinese officials in Beijing that are expected to be contentious, (U.S. Delegation Heads To China For Missile Talks, by Bill Gertz, The Washington Times, February 15, 2000, p.6)
Democratic Senator Kent Conrad urged Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and other US officials to continue to press Moscow to live up to vows made by then-president Boris Yeltsin in 1991 and 1992 on tactical nuclear weapons. "I think that we should send a very clear message to the Russians that this issue can threaten any START III accord," - he said, (Russia Warned Tactical Nukes Could Threaten START III, by Agence France Presse, Russia Today, February 12, 2000).
A new turn in U.S.-Russian cooperation on non-proliferation of nuclear materials: The Russian government has told U.S. officials it wants to abandon a joint project to convert military atomic reactors to civilian use and shut them down instead, The Washington Post reported last week. Russian Interfax agency denied this information.
- The United States Has Got An Offer to Warm Siberian Cities - in Russian, (by Sergei Leskov, Izvestiya, February 16, 2000, p.3)
- Russian-U.S. Plan To Convert Nuclear Reactors Remains In Force - Ministry, (Interfax, February 15, 2000)
- Pu-production reactors to be shut down some time in the future, (by Thomas Nilsen and Igor Kudrik, Bellona Press Release, February 15, 2000)
- Russia To Abandon Nuclear Project Negotiated By Gore, (by Agence France Presse, Russia Today, February 14, 2000)
- Moscow Seeks Halt To Reactor Conversion, (by Reuters, Russia Today, February 13, 2000)
- Russian Reactor Project Troubled. Moscow Wants to Halt Conversion To Civilian Use, (by Michael Dobbs, The Washington Post, February 13, 2000)
- Report: Russia To Shut Down Reactors, (by Associated Press, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2000; 11:42 p.m. EST)
- Russia May Quit Reprocessing But End Up With More Nuclear Waste, (by Igor Kudrik, Bellona Press Release, February 11, 2000)
"...Allegetions of some of information agencies on lowering the threshold to use nuclear weapons by Russia do not reflect the essence of the problem, as it formulated in the Concept (of national security - E.M.). It is important to realize, that Russia overrides everything at disposal to achieve the goal of deterrence, and will rebuff decisively and firmly, by all of its strength. Russia will never be an aggressor, as ensured by its legislature and existing concept of national security..." (a briefing of Sergei Ivanov, the head of Russia's national security council before foreign ambassadors, February 15, 2000 (in Russian). See also our special section: Russian National Security Concept and Nuclear Policy. On conditions to use nuclear weapons, as formulated in the draft military doctrine - see an interview with Major-General Vladimir Dvorkin, one of the authors of the doctrine, (Sergeyev's Doctrine Is Not Firmer Than The Previous One, - in Russian, by Sergei Sokut, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, February 19, 2000, p. 6).
To Washington's consternation, Russia is building floating nuclear stations that are meant to bring cheap energy to remote areas - but are potential waterborne "Chernobyls" that easily could be raided by terrorists, (Russia's Floating Nuke Plants: Cheap Now, Costly Later?, by Judith Matloff, The Christian Science Monitor, February 17, 2000, p.7)
The city of Novosibirsk suffered a radiation attack 39 years ago, ("Secret Explosion No 100", by Sergei Korzennikov, Trud, February 16, 2000, p.2).
February 11, 2000
"...Rush ratification of START II Treaty (which will certainly be connected to observance of the ABM Treaty) will force us in few months to face with a dilemma: should we accept, that we bluffed, and publicly capitulate or should we take the way of hard confrontation with the U.S. In the first case we'll demonstrate to all of the world, that Moscow is incapable to defend its interests and agrees to follow Washington dictate without a complaint. In thе second case - the whole strategic arms control regime (ABM, START II and START I Treaties) will collapse and all hopes to solve the problem of debts will disappear..." (A Strange Time In U.S.-Russian Relations, - in Russian, by Sergei Rogov, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, February 8, 2000)"...When the Acting Russian President says about his intention to develop constructive relations with the United States - this is a sincere gesture. There is no other way for Russia. However, is the U.S. answer sincere as well? Unfortunately, practical steps suggest the opposite...", (Russia Does Not Accept Forceful Dictate From the U.S., - in Russian, by Leonid Ivashov, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, February 11, 2000, p. 1)
The United States should consider granting Russia the right to maintain a multi-warhead capability on some of its long-range missiles as part of a package deal that would change the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and break through the current deadlock on arms control, a new study concludes. The study consists of two reports, one prepared by an American group of analysts and former senior government officials and the second by a similarly assembled Russian panel (Experts Suggest Multi-Warhead Capability For Russian Missiles, by Michael C. Sirak, Inside Missile Defense, February 9, 2000).
U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said on Tuesday she saw signs of open-mindedness in arms control talks with Russian leaders: Albright Sees Russian Flexibility On Arms Talks, (by Reuters, Russia Today, February 9, 2000).
The United States should not rule out sharing "pieces" of its missile-defense technology with Russia if that's what it takes to get Moscow to drop its objections to a proposed national missile system, two influential senators said this weekend: Idea: Share Shield Technology With Russia, (by Andrea Stone, USA Today, February 7, 2000, p. 11).
Defense Secretary William S. Cohen said on Tuesday, that a minor coolant leak prevented a high- speed interceptor from knocking out a dummy warhead in the final seconds of a recent national missile defense test over the Pacific.:
According to Rossiiskaya Gazeta a failure in the next missile intercept test in May could be an exit for President Clinton in a BMD deadlock: A Deadlock in Open Space, (by Dmitri Polivoda, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, February 10, 2000, p. 7)
- Cohen Blames Coolant Leak In Failure Of Missile Defense, (by Bill Gertz, (The Washington Times, February 9, 2000)
- Leak in Coolant Pipe Is Probable Cause of Antimissile Failure, (by Elizabeth Becker, The New York Times, February 9, 2000)
- Leak Foiled Missile Test, (by Bradley Graham, The Washington Post, February 8, 2000)
CIA Director George Tenet presented an official view of threats for the U.S. before the Senate. According to Joseph Cirincione, Director, Non-Proliferation Project Carnegie Endowment for International Peace,"...The missile threat is certainly changing, and is increasing by some criteria. But by several other important criteria, the ballistic missile threat to the United States is significantly smaller than it was in the mid-1980s..."
Experts continue to discuss a debate between the United States and European countries on BMD deployment plans:
- Assessing the Ballistic Missile Threat, (Testimony Joseph Cirincione, Director, Non-Proliferation Project Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Subcommittee on International Security, Proliferation and Federal Services Committee on Governmental Affairs United States Senate February 9, 2000)
- The Worldwide Threat in 2000: Global Realities of Our National Security, (Statement by Director of Central Intelligence George J. Tenet Before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, February 2, 2000)
Clinton administration proposed Pentagon's FY 2001 budget, which exceeds $ 291 billion. In particular, the budget calls for $4.7 billion to be spent on programs to develop antimissile defense systems.
- The Brawl over Missile Defense, (by Stephen Young, Coalition to Reduce Nuclear Dangers, February 7, 2000)
- Cohen Brings U.S. Missile-Defense Argument To Europe, (by Joseph Fitchett, International Herald Tribune, February 7, 2000)
- Missile Defense To "Avert Nuclear Blackmail", (Russia Today, February 6, 2000)
- Against Ballistic Missile Defenses, - in Russian (Vedomosti, January 28, 2000)
On Wednesday, a "Topol-M" ICBM was successfully launched from Plesetsk test range, (The Tenth Test Launch of the "Topol", Krasnaya Zvezda, February 10, 2000, p. 1)
- Fiscal Year 2001 Military Budget at a Glance, (Council For A Livable World Education Fund Analysis, February 7, 2000)
- Highlights of the FY 2001 Request, (Center for Defense Information, February 7, 2000)
- Pentagon Budgets Projected to Make 'Son of Star Wars' Operational by 2005, (BASIC Press Release, February 7, 2000)
- Clinton Adds To Funding For Missile System, (by Eric Rosenberg, San Francisco Examiner, February 7, 2000)
"...Currently and in foreseeable future, not only nuclear weapons should be considered as a means of strategic deterrence, but also conventional high precision weapons...," (The Document Is Far From Perfection, - in Russian, by Valentin Rog, Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, N 5, February 11-17, 2000, p.4).
"...States acquire nuclear weapons because they fear--rightly or wrongly--for their security...It is ironic that as the Cold War becomes a faded rose from a half-remembered prom, military planners are creating a system of non-nuclear weapons that may give new life to nuclear proliferation--or to the proliferation of other weapons of mass destruction...", (Unintended Consequences, by Michael Moor, The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, January-February, 2000, Vol. 56, No. 1, pp. 58-64). See also in this issue of the magazine:
Not only the United States but Russia as well has plans to convert its ballistic missile submarines. However, in contrast to the Americans, Russians consider a possibility to use them as civil transports. "Typhoon" class SSBNs are supposed to be the first candidates for such a conversion:
- The Russian Public Speaks, (by Vladimir Orlov & Ivan A. Safranchuk, pp. 16-18)
- Sharpen The Fear, (by David G. Gompert, pp. 22-23)
- The assault on arms control, (by Joseph Cirincione, pp. 32-37)
- Where to go from here, (by John Isaacs, pp. 40-41)
- The old designing fever, (by Greg Mello, pp. 51-57)
On future of the Russian sea based strategic forces see also: Underwater Missile Carriers Is Not A Luxury, But A Necessity, (by Sergei Putilov, Interfax-Vremya, February 3-9, 2000)
- Underwater Nickel, -in Russian, (by Alexei Sinitskii, Izvestiya, February 11, 2000, p. 4)
- Russian company considering converting military subs to haul ore, (by Associated Press, February 10, 2000)
- "Typhoons" Will Become Cargo Ships, (by Roman Fomishenko, Krasnaya Zvezda, February 5, 2000, p. 3)
- Submarine Transports for Arctic, - in Russian, (by Valeri Aleksin, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, January 18, 2000, p. 2)
The Clinton administration called for a major expansion of its nuclear nonproliferation programs in Russia in return for a Russian promise to stop producing plutonium from the spent fuel of civilian nuclear reactors. However, Head of the Minatom Yevgeni Adamov claims, that Russia does not have any agreement with the U.S. on stopping plutonium production. Moreover, there are no negotiations to prepare such an agreement
Russia has carried out seven underground tests at the nuclear test field at Novaya Zemlya archipelago since January, (Seven subcritical tests in Arctic, by Thomas Nilsen, Bellona Press Release, February 8, 2000)
- Yevgeni Adamov Is In A Decisive Mood, - in Russian, (by Andrei Vaganov, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, February 11, 2000, p. 2)
- A Giving Arm Twists The Taking Arm, - in Russian, (by Maria Ignatova, Izvestiya, February 9, 2000, p. 6)
- The Fuel Of Nuclear Power Plants Will Not Be Used For Plutonium Production, (Segodnya, February 9, 2000)
- U.S.-Russian Moratorium Proposed on Plutonium Production, (by Michael Dobbs, The Washington Post, Tuesday, February 8, 2000; Page A19)
- US, Russia OK Nuke Protection Plan, (by H. Josef Hebert, Associated Press, Monday, Feb. 7, 2000; 6:14 p.m. EST)
- U.S., Russia Reach Plutonium Agreement, (by Reuters, Russia Today, February 7, 2000)
A seminar "Prospects For Creation Of International Regime To Ban Production Of Fissile Materials For Military Use" took place in Moscow Carnegie Center on Tuesday. The presentation was made by Vladimir Rybachenkov, an adviser of the Department of Security and Disarmament of the Russian Ministry Of Foreign Affairs.
"...The new military doctrine...contains another, much more serious strategic change. For the first time, an official Russian military document recognizes the possibility of a regional limited nuclear war..." (Defense Dossier: Nuke Strategy Is Not News, by Pavel Felgenhauer, The Moscow Times, February 10, 2000).
In a recent issue of Yadernoye Rasprostraneniye magazine (N 29-30, April-June 2000):
- From START II To START III, (by Alexei Arbatov, pp. 5-11)
- New Approaches To The Control Of Strategic Offensive And Defensive Arms, (by Victor Koltunov, pp. 12-17)
- START And A New Role For Russia, (by Sergei Rogov, pp. 18-23)
- START II Ratification Is Postponed: What Then? (by Pyotr Romashkin and Natalia Romashkina, pp. 24-32)
- Negotiating Fissile Materials Production Ban, (by Rebecca Johnson, pp. 77-87)
Today at the START Forum (in Russian): prospects for ABM Treaty and future of Russian sea based strategic forces.
February 7, 2000
"...Russia should carefully watch the U.S. plans to convert four strategic submarines to SSGNs and foresee a possible diplomatic attack of Washington..." (High Precision Missiles Replace Nukes, - in Russian, by Anatoli Diakov and Eugene Miasnikov, Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, N 4, February 4-10, 2000, p.6).The presidential Security Council on Friday approved a new national military doctrine. As well as a national security doctrine adopted the last month, the new military doctrine broadens scenarios to implement nuclear weapons:
The meeting of U.S. State Secretary Madeleine Albright with Acting President Vladimir Putin did not create a breakthrough in ABM issue:
- Russia Changes Its Military Doctrine, - in Russian, (by Alexander Shaburkin, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, February 5, p. 1)
- Russia Reserves The Right To Choose A Weapon, - in Russian, (by Vladimir Yermolin, Izvestiya, February 5, 2000, p. 2)
- Having Friendship With NATO Is Cheaper, (by Oleg Odnokolenko, Segodnya, February 5, 2000)
- New Russian Doctrine Includes West, (by Associated Press, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2000; 6:01 a.m. EST)
- Draft Military Doctrine of the Russian Federation, - in Russian, (as published on October 23, 1999)
Russian Experts' Views On Strategic Stability and ABM Treaty:
- "Iron Lady's" Military Ruse, (by Olga Ruban, Moskovski Komsomolets, February 3, 2000)
- Albright Urges Russia To Allow Changes To ABM Treaty, by Agence France Presse, Russia Today, February 2, 2000)
- America Acknowledged Putin A Patriot. The State Secretary Learnt A Russian Word "Nyet" in Kremlin, (by Valeria Sychyova, Segodnya, February 2, 2000)
Russia and China, the staunchest opponents of American efforts to develop a nationwide defense against missile attacks, are likely to use European doubts about the project as a way of dividing Washington from its NATO allies, Defense Secretary William Cohen predicted (Cohen: Moscow May Exploit Dispute, by Robert Burns, Associated Press, Friday, Feb. 4, 2000; 2:48 a.m. EST).
- Star Wars II. Does Russia have A Deserving Answer? (by Vladimir Basistov, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, February 5, 2000)
- It Is Time To Establish A Collective Responsibility For Strategic Security, - in Russian (by Nikolai Mikhailov, Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, N 4, February 4-10, 2000, p.4).
- Russian Liberal Foresees ABM Compromise, (by Reuters, Russia Today, February 3, 2000)
- U.S.-Russia Relations: A New Chill Russian Liberal Blames U.S. for Growing Rift, - an interview with Alexei Arbatov, (Global Beat Issue Brief No. 55 Report, Prepared by Paul Tooher, February 2, 1999)
- Vladimir Lukin: "Moscow Should Avoid Hostile Environment", - in Russian, (by Vladimir Malyovanny, Dipkorpus, February 2, 2000)
Nikolai Bezborodov, Deputy Chair of the Defense Committee of the State Duma answers to the questions of Krasnaya Zvezda: "...As to the START II Treaty, te situation of January 1999 is not similar to the one of January 2000...Last steps of the U.S. on NMD development and NATO actions on Balkans force to consider further nuclear reductions very carefully. External threats for Russia have not been reduced, moreover, they are increased...", (What Kind of Laws Do We Need?, by Vitali Denisov, Krasnaya Zvezda, January 28, 2000, p. 3).
In a major agreement aimed at safeguarding nuclear fuel that could be used to make weapons, Russia has promised to stop making plutonium out of fuel from its civilian power reactors as part of a $100 million joint research and aid package from the United States, Clinton administration and Russian officials say, (Moscow Takes Step to Ease U.S. Fears on Plutonium Use, by Judith Miller, The New York Times, February 7, 2000).
U.S. efforts to keep Russia's nuclear weapons materiel away from rogue nations or terrorists may fail without increased government money and attention, a bipartisan group of foreign policy experts warns, (US Urged To Closely Eye Russia Nukes, by H. Josef Hebert, Associated Press, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2000; 10:45 p.m. EST).
Calling efforts toward global disarmament deplorable, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned Wednesday that "a dangerous new arms race looms on the horizon", (U.N. Chief Warns of New Arms Race, by Edith M. Lederer, Associated Press, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2000; 9:02 p.m. EST).
Israel's Parliament begrudgingly held its first public discussion on Wednesday, in more than 35 years about the country's long-secret nuclear arms programs, and the usually loquacious body had so little to say that the debate was over in 52 minutes. (Israeli Lawmakers Hold Quick Debate on Nuclear Arms, by Deborah Sontag, The New York Times, February 3, 2000).
An organization is created in Pakistan, that will be responsible for control of its nuclear deterrent (Pakistan: The Nuclear Button At the General's Disposal. However, Approval of Colleagues Is Needed To Press It, - in Russian, by Vladimir Skosyrev, Izvestiya, February 5, 2000, p. 4).
Today at the START Forum (in Russian): Nikolai Sokov on prospects of the ABM Treaty; limits on SSBN patrolling areas etc.
February 2, 2000
"...Currently, START II ratification by the State Duma can not solve any problem. Ratification will not mean the treaty entry into force any time soon, it will not cause beginning of START III negotiations, moreover, it will not stop U.S. plans to deploy ballistic missile defenses...", (START II Ratification Is No More Urgent, - in Russian, by Pavel Podvig, Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, N 3, January 28 - February 3, 2000)Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright visited Moscow and discussed problems of START II ratification, prospects of START III and ABM Treaty modifications at the meetings with Acting President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. As it was expected, positions of both sides have not been changed.
- Russians Wary of U.S. Pitch for Missile, (by Jane Perlez, The New York Times, February 1, 2000)
- "Iron Lady" Wishes To Get Acquainted, (by Alexander Chudodeyev, Segodnya, February 1, 2000)
- Albright: Russia Inflicting Misery, (by Barry Schweid, Associated Press, Monday, Jan. 31, 2000; 2:09 p.m. EST)
- U.S. Opposes Extra Russian Arms Cut Offer, (by Reuters, Russia Today, January 28, 2000)
- Russia: Cut Arsenals To 1,500 Warheads, (by Steven Mufson, The Washington Post, Friday, January 28, 2000; Page A17)
Yuri Kolosov, the Head of the Department of International Law of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations clarifies Russian attitude toward the ABM Treaty: Here It Goes An Arms Race, (Rossiiskaya Gazeta, February 1, 2000, p. 7). See also our special section: ABM Treaty Modification: Should Russia Agree?
G. Mamedov, Deputy Foreign Minister met with a delegation of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, lead by J. Holdren, the Chair of the Committee On International Security and Arms Control. He presented an approach of the Russian Federation on problems of reductions of strategic arms in a context of U.S.-Russian relations (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Release, January 28, 2000) - in Russian.
The failure of the Pentagon's latest National Missile Defense test on Jan. 18 reopened the debate over how fast to proceed with deployment of an NMD system.:
- Testing A Missile And A Treaty, (by Eric Schmitt, The New York Times, January 30, 2000)
- Why Pentagon Spells 'Safety' N-M-D, (by William D. Hartung and Michelle Ciarrocca, Los Angeles Times, January 30, 2000)
- Cohen Touts Missile Test's 'Near Miss', (by Bill Gertz, The Washington Times, January 29, 2000, p.2)
- Missile defences. Countdown, (The Economist, January 29 – February 4, 2000)
Britain has asked Washington for the first time to consider protecting Europe as well as the United States if it goes ahead with building a national anti-ballistic missile defence system to protect America from rogue missile attacks.:
- Britain Asks US To Widen Defence System, (by Michael Evans, London Times, January 31, 2000)
- The Coming Brawl With Europe Over Missile Defense, (by Peter W. Rodman, The Nixon Center REALITY CHECK, January 31, 2000)
"...The nuclear-related provisions of the Concept elicited a wide response from the expert community. The document was reported to have a lower threshold of threat for the use of nuclear weapons. In fact, in comparison with the previous variant of the Concept, the current document has fewer provisions concerning nuclear weapons and they do not differ much...", (The Concept Of National Security: The Nuclear Factor, PIR Arms Control Letters, January 31, 2000). See also: Russia's Nuclear Addiction, (The Washington Times, January 30, 2000, p. B2) and our special section Russian National Security Concept and Nuclear Policy.
Special report of Novyye Izvestiya tells about life of Russian closed nuclear cities: Russian Nuclear Cities Are Out Of Money, Though Americans Provide With Grants, (by Natalia Timashova, Novyye Izvestiya, January 29, 2000)
Did USEC Inc.'s shareholders end up with a lemon? (Approaching Critical Mass? Privatized Uranium Processor USEC Has Disappointed Both Shareholders and Capitol Hill, by Martha M. Hamilton, The Washington Post, Monday, January 31, 2000; Page F08).
More than 5,000 U.S. and Russian high-alert nuclear weapons positioned on submarines, in silos, on aircraft and on railcars have the force of 100,000 Hiroshima bombs. Within 15 to 30 minutes after an alert is sounded, reports race up and orders race down the chain of command. The weapons must be fired before they are destroyed by the attack, (Some Think It's Time To Slow Our Nuclear Response, by Judith Graham, Chicago Tribune, January 30, 2000).
Today at the START Forum (in Russian): a possible Russian answer on U.S. NMD deployment.
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