DATE=  11/4/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222179

TITLE=U-S / RUSSIA / NUCLEAR (S ONLY)

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:   THE UNITED STATES HAS DROPPED ITS CLAIM THAT RUSSIA MAY 

HAVE DETONATED A NUCLEAR DEVICE IN THE ARCTIC CIRCLE LAST AUGUST.

V-O-A'S WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE HAS DETAILS.



TEXT:   U-S OFFICIALS HAD INITIALLY SUSPECTED THAT A SEISMIC  

DISTURBANCE IN THE ARCTIC SEA AUGUST 16TH MAY HAVE BEEN THE 

RESULT OF A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION AT RUSSIA'S NOVAYA ZEMLYA ISLAND 

TEST SITE -- WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN IN VIOLATION OF MOSCOW'S 

MORATORIUM ON NUCLEAR TESTS.



BUT OFFICIALS NOW BELIEVE THE INCIDENT WAS THE RESULT OF WHAT 

THEY CALL A 'NATURAL EVENT'.



THE ADMINISTRATION REVERSED ITS POSITION AFTER A PANEL OF EXPERTS

APPOINTED BY CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY DIRECTOR GEORGE TENET 

REVIEWED THE AGENCY'S ANALYSIS OF THE SEISMIC EVENT, AND 

CONCLUDED IT WAS  NOT  A NUCLEAR BLAST, BUT A DISTURBANCE IN THE 

KARA SEA THAT WAS UNRELATED TO ACTIVITY AT RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR TEST 

SITE. 



THE C-I-A AND THE WHITE HOUSE HAVE ACCEPTED THE PANEL'S 

CONCLUSION.                                   



RUSSIA ALL ALONG HAD MAINTAINED THAT THE SEISMIC EVENT WAS THE 

RESULT OF AN UNDERSEA EARTHQUAKE.             



THE U-S SENATE IS SCHEDULED TO REVIEW THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN 

TREATY NEXT YEAR, AND HAS MADE CLEAR IT WOULD RECONSIDER 

COMPLIANCE IF RUSSIA ABANDONS ITS MORATORIUM.  (SIGNED)







NEB/DAT/TMD/PT











04-Nov-97 4:48 PM EST (2148 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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