Date: Fri, 5 Apr 1996 10:34:57 -0500
 

      3 April 1996 (Reuter) - Problems bedevilling a concrete
sarcophagus over the Chernobyl nuclear reactor which exploded
10 years ago must be resolved to prevent radioactive dust
escaping into the atmosphere, atomic experts said. The roof of
the concrete tomb was in danger of collapse and some of the
original nuclear fuel had been found to still exist in the
reactor. If the fuel came in contact with water, it could also
spark a radioactive leak, they said.

      3 April 1996 (Reuter) - Fresh talks between Ukraine and
the West on shutting down the Chernobyl nuclear power station
made progress but Ukrainian officials said they were concerned
at long procedures to finance the operation.

      3 April 1996 (Reuter) - Nuclear experts from the
European Union, United States and Russia have agreed to
coordinate efforts to help Moscow clamp down on illicit
trafficking in nuclear materials.

      3 April 1996 (Reuter) - Indian Foreign Minister Pranab
Mukherjee said that India has no plans to test a nuclear
missile. India successfully conducted an underground nuclear
test in 1974 in its desert state of Rajasthan, but has not
conducted any tests since then.

      3 April 1996 (UPI) - A three-day international forum
concluded in Vienna that urgent measures to improve the safety
of 15 RBMK Chernobyl-type nuclear reactors in Eastern Europe
and the former Soviet Union. The forum was organized by the
International Atomic Energy Agency and the U.N. Department for
Humanitarian Affairs to assess safety measures taken since the
Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine. Russian designers and
operators have carried out considerable work to improve the
safety of the remaining RBMK units, but much remains to be
done, the forum concluded.

      4 April 1996 (Reuter) - China warned the United States
not to impose sanctions over "hearsay" allegations that it had
transferred nuclear technology to Pakistan. U.S. Secretary of
State Warren Christopher is reportedly in the final stages of
considering targeted penalties against Beijing over its
alleged sale of nuclear-related technology to Pakistan.
Ministry spokesman Shen Guofang said China had repeatedly
stated it had not and would not transfer equipment or
technology for use in making nuclear weapons to any country.