DATE=9/29/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S - UKRAINE NUCLEAR (S-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254467
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:   The United States and Ukraine have signed an 
agreement designed to safeguard Ukrainian nuclear 
material.   Correspondent Nick Simeone reports the 
agreement in New York comes just days after a small 
amount of Uranium suspected of originating in Ukraine 
was intercepted in neighboring Georgia.

TEXT:   Ukraine has more than a dozen aging nuclear 
reactors and there is great concern about the security 
of the uranium used to power them.  The agreement 
signed by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and 
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk highlights 
the need to prevent Ukraine's expertise in aerospace 
technology and missiles from falling into the hands of 
anyone interested in producing weapons of mass 
destruction. 

Safeguarding nuclear material in former Soviet 
republics has long been a U-S priority.   US officials 
say the interception in Georgia last week of a cache 
of low-grade uranium demonstrates the need to prevent 
a breakdown in control over nuclear material in the 
region.

The agreement signed in New York Wednesday also covers 
the control of sensitive missile technology, striving 
to ensure that Ukraine's future missile development is 
consistent with both countries' commitments to non-
proliferation.   (Signed)

NEB/NJS/gm




29-Sep-1999 13:32 PM EDT (29-Sep-1999 1732 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.