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Research is something we regard as part of the overall program for the development of space weapons. When, therefore, we see tens of billions of dollars being earmarked for such research, it is clear to us what the design is of the authors of such research and what is behind the specific policy pursued with regard to outer space. Now, when the question comes up about research, and the question of banning research, what we have in mind is not research in fundamental science. Such research concerning space is going on and it will continue. What we mean is the designing stage, when certain orders are given, contracts are signed, for specific elements of the systems. And when they start building models or mockups or test samples, when they hold field tests, now that is something--when it goes over to the designing stage --that is something that can be verified. So we believe this process is verifiable. So if money is appropriated for such research, then that research has to culminate in the designing of mockups, models that are elements of the system, and that can be verified through national technical means of verification. There will have to be field tests of various components. After all, if we can now, from our artificial earth satellites, read the numbers on automobiles down on earth, surely we can recognize these things when they come to that stage. So therefore we can say flatly that verification is proper.
But the main thing is that if all this work on space weaponry were to stop at this stage, then no one would have any more interest in going over to the next stage in the process of designing and developing, because nobody would think of appropriating any more money for these purposes if it were known that money could not subsequently be used. But on the other hand, if billions and billions of dollars had already been spent on research, then nobody is going to stop because all that money had been invested in SDI. And so then, once space weapons are deployed, once they are in space, then nobody could control that process. And that is what I mean when I say that we would come to an unpredictable phase in relations. And of course you have to bear in mind that the other side is not going to be dozing all this time. That is something you may be very sure of.
When they talk about the purely scientific research nature of the SDI at this stage, they do so to somehow conceal that what is under way today is the whole process of developing space-weapons systems. The very fact that the U.S. is now planning to test a second-generation antisatellite system is fraught with the most serious consequences. We will surely react. This test, in effect a test of a second-generation ASAT system, means in fact testing an element of a space-based ABM.
This we are witnessing against the background of a negative response to our proposal for the U.S. to join the moratorium on nuclear explosions. The U.S. does not want to join that moratorium for one simple reason, among others: the U.S. needs nuclear testing to provide the nuclear element for space lasers. It has to be used to produce an X-ray laser effect. All these are elements in the space-based antiballistic missile defense. Think then what would happen if the whole thing goes full steam ahead. We believe America should give honest thought to these matters before proceeding further.