CHRISTOPHER: NUCLEAR SECURITY SUMMIT AGENDA.

U.S. secretary of state Warren Christopher last week outlined what Washington sees as the agenda for the April 19-20 G-7 summit in Moscow: agreement "on a concrete program to prevent illicit trafficking in nuclear materials;" an agreement on cooperation in disposing of plutonium no longer needed for defense purposes; an opportunity to "recognize and applaud Ukraine’s courageous decision to close the Chernobyl reactor;" agreement on "tangible steps to improve the safety of other similar aging reactors;" progress on reaching a zero-yield comprehensive test ban treaty this year; U.S. reaffirmation of its commitment to the ABM Treaty; and an effort to win Russian ratification of START II.

Christopher added that U.S. President Bill Clinton would hold a bilateral meeting with Boris Yeltsin the day after the summit, at which he would look to reinforce cooperation and progress on anti-terrorism, the Bosnia peace process, and joint efforts on arms control. Clinton also intends to meet with a broad spectrum of Russian political leaders, and will convey to Yeltsin Washington’s "deep concern and disappointment about the continuing war in Chechnya." NATO enlargement is also expected to be discussed. (U.S. Newswire, April 11)

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