31.   Earlier in the year, government and legislative leaders had predicted passage of the nuclear reduction treaty this summer.

32.   Gore to urge Russian parliament to ratify START II nuclear arms reduction treaty.

33.   He plans to meet with Russian Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko on Friday, and urge Russian lawmakers to ratify the START II nuclear arms reduction treaty.

34.   He also urged Russia to ratify START II, the second strategic arms reduction treaty with the United States.

35.   He was to meet Friday with Russian Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko and urge Russian lawmakers to ratify the START II nuclear arms reduction treaty.

36.   In an appearance before the Duma, Perry appealed to Russian lawmakers to approve the arms reduction treaty.

37.   Instead, Pikayev said, Russia should bargain by seeking changes in the pending START II arms reduction treaty as a condition for accepting revisions of the ABM pact.

38.   Ivanov also denied that the arms reduction treaty being signed Friday hurts Russian national security interests.

39.   Ivanov denied Thursday that the arms reduction treaty being signed Friday hurts Russian national security interests.

40.   Last month, Putin and U.S. President George W. Bush signed a new nuclear arms reduction treaty and pledged to explore possibilities for cooperation in missile defense.