DATE=11/17/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA MISSILE TEST (S)
NUMBER=2-256267
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:  Russia has demonstrated its military might on 
the eve of the European Security summit.  V-O-A's 
Moscow correspondent, Peter Heinlein, reports Russia's 
Arctic fleet test-fired two missiles that could carry 
nuclear weapons.

TEXT:  A Russian navy statement says the missiles were 
launched from a Typhoon-class nuclear submarine in the 
Barents Sea.  Both warheads hit their targets on 
Russia's far eastern Kamchatka peninsula.

The statement says the launch demonstrates the high 
level of preparedness of Russia's military command 
system and personnel training.

Announcement of the test firings appeared to carry a 
strong political message, coming just as President 
Boris Yeltsin was flying to Istanbul to attend a 
European security summit.

Mr. Yeltsin is expected to face a barrage of 
international criticism at the summit over Russia's 
military offensive in Chechnya.  Russian officials 
have angrily rejected such criticisms, and sought to 
focus attention on other issues, among them U-S plans 
to build a missile defense system that would violate 
the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty.  (Signed)

NEB/PFH/JWH/JP




17-Nov-1999 10:37 AM EDT (17-Nov-1999 1537 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.