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DATE=4/10/2000 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=U-S / RUSSIA ARMS (L-ONLY) NUMBER=2-261147 BYLINE=KYLE KING DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: U-S officials say Russian moves toward ratification of the long-delayed START-two arms reduction treaty could mark an important step toward even deeper cuts in nuclear weapons. The U-S reaction came after Russian parliamentary leaders announced that debate on the treaty could begin as early as Friday, and approval now looks likely. From the State Department, V-O-A's Kyle King reports. TEXT: Russian parliamentary leaders emerged from talks with members of President Vladimir Putin's Security Council Monday, saying a vote on the START- two treaty could come some time this month. (Vladimir Lukin) The deputy speaker of the Duma, or lower house of Parliament, told the Interfax news agency that chances of ratification are high. The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as START- two, would slash the nuclear arsenals of both countries by about 50 percent. The treaty was ratified by the U-S Senate in 1996, but had been blocked in Russia's Parliament by Communists and hard-liners, who lost control of the Duma in the last elections. Debate on the issue is expected to begin Friday, but the date must first be agreed by the Duma's agenda setting committee. State Department spokesman James Rubin says Russian ratification of the START-two treaty could open the way for even deeper cuts in nuclear weapons. /// RUBIN ACT /// We think ratification of START-two will be a very, very important step to protect the future of all of us in promoting, comprehensive, concrete arms control measures. And it will not only be important for its own sake, it will open up the possibility of accelerating discussions on even deeper cuts in strategic nuclear arms, that we believe could advance our security and the security of the Russians. /// END ACT /// The United States and Russia have already been discussing a so-called START-three treaty, but formal negotiations can not begin until START-two is ratified in Moscow. Some analysts say Russian officials are hoping the treaty can be approved in time for Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov's trip to Washington later this month. (Signed) NEB/KBK/TVM/WTW 10-Apr-2000 17:18 PM EDT (10-Apr-2000 2118 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .