ACCESSION



ACCESSION NUMBER:219509

FILE ID:PO-509

DATE:03/13/92

TITLE:IRAQ'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM SAID TO BE "PUT ON HALT" (03/13/92)

TEXT:*92031309.POL

IRAQ'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM SAID TO BE "PUT ON HALT"



(Clarke assesses non-proliferation efforts)  (390)

By Rosalind Mandine

USIA Staff Writer

Washington -- Iraq's nuclear program has been "successfully disrupted"

and "put on halt," Richard Clarke, assistant secretary of state for

politico-military affairs, told a congressional subcommittee March 13.



However, he said "there is a lot more to be done, including the destruction

of (nuclear) facilities."



In testimony before a hearing of the Joint Economic Committee's Subcommittee

on Technology and National Security, Clarke outlined progress in

non-proliferation in 1991, characterizing the "overall picture" as "very

much on the plus side."  However he stressed that more needs to be done,

citing problems related to chemical and biological weapons and to various

world regions, including North Korea, Iran and South Asia.



North Korea, he said, remains a major problem area in non-proliferation

efforts.  "North Korea's irresponsible proliferation behavior is most

egregious in the case of missiles," he noted.  "In fact, North Korea is now

the only country selling complete missile systems that exceed MTCR (Missile

Technology Control Regime) parameters to the Third World -- a dubious

distinction that threatens international security."



A particular problem is North Korea's production of Scud missiles, notably a

new Scud with an extended range of 1,000 kilometers, Clarke said.  The

extended-range Scud will be flight-tested this year and could be on the

market next year, Clarke said, noting that North Korea has sold Scud

missiles to some countries, including Syria and Iran.



Another area of concern is Iran and its efforts to become a nuclear power,

Clarke said, adding that the United States does not expect Iran to adhere

fully to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.



South Asia is an area for concern "primarily for nuclear proliferation

reasons," Clarke said.  There is a "risk that India and Pakistan will also

compete in missile, chemical, and biological weapons as well," he said.



The United States has proposed a five-nation conference, that would include

the United States, Russia, China, Pakistan and India, "as a way to reduce

tensions and deal with regional proliferation problems, among other

subjects," Clarke said.  He pointed out, however, that India has not yet

agreed to participate.

1

On chemical and biological weapons, Clarke said Libya, Iran, Pakistan and

Syria, among others, "continue to pursue a policy of acquiring CBW

weapons."



Clarke would not comment on news accounts alleging that Israel has

transferred Patriot missile technology to China.



NNNN



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