"The Soviets interestingly enough are saying that we need a Start agreement," a senior Administration official said.

We're also ready to move ahead on a "Start" agreement that would cut intercontinental nuclear forces by 50 percent, thereby eliminating thousands of nuclear missiles.

Worse yet, the Soviets could halt further reductions and call the new Start agreement into question.

"There is still a fair amount of work that has to be done before we conclude a Start agreement."

The two ministers have agreed to follow the work of technical experts very closely on a daily basis for completing the Start agreement.

"You can literally see from this document the shape of a Start agreement," he said.

Arms control advocates have urged the two sides to seek deeper cuts as part of a Start 2 agreement.

But look, I think we ought to go forward and try to get a Start agreement.

The Start agreements, which preceded the current accord, required both sides to destroy nuclear weapons launchers and carriers.

Arms control advocates have urged that the two sides seek deeper cuts than the 30 percent reductions now contemplated for the Start 2 agreement.