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Gorbachev Halts Uranium Output : Western Arms Experts Say Move Is ‘Not Significant’

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From Reuters

Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev today announced that Moscow is halting production of uranium used in making nuclear weapons.

In a speech at London’s medieval Guildhall, Gorbachev also appealed to NATO to forgo its projected modernization of short-range nuclear missiles in Europe, arguing that it could undermine the new climate of East-West relations.

“I take the opportunity to tell you that we have recently decided to cease this year the production of enriched weapons-grade uranium,” he told an audience of British political and business leaders on the last day of a three-day visit.

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With Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sitting only yards away, he condemned the concept of nuclear deterrence that she strongly champions and said it is time to focus on “how to deter and keep in check nuclear weapons themselves.”

Although described by one senior Western arms expert as “not as significant as it may sound,” his uranium announcement was one of the surprise unilateral measures--sometimes dubbed “rabbits out of hats”--for which he has become famous.

In Washington, the State Department dismissed Gorbachev’s move as an empty gesture.

‘Substantial ... Capabilities’

“The measures will leave the Soviet Union with substantial production capabilities for nuclear materials,” department spokesman Richard Boucher said. “The idea is not really relevant to nuclear weapons in the world.”

But Gorbachev described the move as “yet another major step toward the complete cessation of production of fissionable materials for use in weapons.” He made no direct suggestion that the West should follow suit.

Gorbachev hailed Thatcher for her role in bringing about the current warmth in the Soviet-British relationship, and his address contained a direct appeal for prompt moves on disarmament to the Bush Administration.

Moscow, he declared in his 25-minute address, still puts strategic arms reduction “at the top of the agenda of our relations with the United States.” He added: “We are ready to resume negotiations at any time.”

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In Washington, Bush rejected Gorbachev’s complaints about the pace of U.S.-Soviet arms control negotiations, insisting that the Kremlin leader “knows there is no foot-dragging” by the United States.

‘A Prudent Review’

Bluntly dismissing requests at a White House news conference to respond to Gorbachev’s comments, Bush told reporters: “We’ll be ready to react when we feel like reacting.

“We’re the United States of America. We’re making a prudent review, and I’ll be ready to discuss that with the Soviets when we are ready,” Bush said.

Gorbachev also called on the United States and the West’s NATO alliance to agree to negotiations with the Soviet Bloc on reducing naval forces.

Navies are excluded from East-West talks in Vienna on cutting non-nuclear forces in Europe. Although NATO argues that the Soviet Union and its allies have a massive conventional superiority, Moscow says the West’s dominant naval strength changes the picture.

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