DATE=05/03/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BUSH/RUSSIA (S)

NUMBER=2-289405

BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Russia's foreign minister says there is a very high probability that there will be a nuclear arms deal with the United States ready to sign when President Bush visits Moscow later this month. V-O-A's Scott Stearns reports, the Bush Administration says there is still work to be done.

TEXT: President Bush met with Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov at the White House Friday to discuss the arms talks and bilateral trade issues.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer says there are good signs from U-S / Russia talks but there are still issues to be decided.

/// FLEISCHER ACT ///

The president is hopeful that an agreement can be reached that he will be able to sign when he arrives in Russia. There has been a lot of hard work done by the Russians and the Americans, and the president is hopeful.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Bush has already announced plans to unilaterally reduce America's nuclear arsenal from six-thousand warheads to about two-thousand. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia would be willing to cut to levels of about fifteen-hundred warheads.

The two sides differ over what to do with those weapons removed from their arsenals. The United States wants to put its warheads in storage in case of emergency. Russia wants all those warheads destroyed. (Signed)

NEB/SS/SAB