81.   The United States has offered to open discussions on a new START III arms reduction treaty, Vice President Al Gore said Friday.

82.   The United States has offered to open discussions with Russia on a new START III arms reduction treaty, Vice President Al Gore said Friday.

83.   US officials say they consider formal arms reductions treaties a Cold War-era relic and would be ready to go without any written accord at all.

84.   Meanwhile, Primakov gave his backing to ratification of the START II nuclear arms reduction treaty, denying that Moscow linked the treaty to NATO not expanding.

85.   Nuclear disarmament, a centerpiece of Cold War summitry, has been at a standstill since the START II strategic nuclear reduction treaty was signed four years ago.

86.   Possible retaliation measures could include withdrawal of Russian forces from Bosnia and a refusal to ratify the START II nuclear arms reduction treaty, the IISS said.

87.   Powell said Bush would brief German leaders on the new strategic offensive arms reduction treaty to be signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Friday.

88.   The highlight of the visit will be the signing of a border troop reduction treaty between China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.