DATE= 11/21/97
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-38161
TITLE=RUSSIA / TERRORISM
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SUITCASE BOMBS AND STOLEN PLUTONIUM IN THE HANDS OF A
TERRORIST GROUP. IT MAKES A GOOD MOVIE PLOT, BUT IS IT A REAL
THREAT? TERRORISM EXPERTS SAY YES, BUT NOT AS MUCH AS
HOLLYWOOD MIGHT HAVE US THINK. V-O-A'S PETER HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW
REPORTS COUNTER-TERRORISM WAS HIGH ON THE AGENDA THIS WEEK WHEN
THE HEAD OF THE U-S FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION PAID A VISIT
TO THE RUSSIAN CAPITAL.
TEXT: IT IS A FRIGHTENING THOUGHT -- A CRIMINAL GANG STEALS OR
MANUFACTURES A PORTABLE NUCLEAR BOMB AND HOLDS THE WORLD HOSTAGE.
F-B-I DIRECTOR LOUIS FREEH ADMITS SUCH SCENARIOS ARE CONSTANTLY
ON THE MINDS OF COUNTER-TERRORISM EXPERTS TRACKING DEVELOPMENTS
IN THE FORMER SOVIET UNION. BUT HE SAYS THERE IS VERY LITTLE
HARD EVIDENCE THAT A REAL-LIFE NUCLEAR MAFIA EXISTS.
/// FREEH ACT ///
THERE'S NO EVIDENCE WE'VE SEEN WHICH ESTABLISHES THEFT
OR CRIMINAL DIVERSION FOR CRIMINAL OR TERRORIST PURPOSES
AND NO LINK BETWEEN ANY ORGANIZED CRIME GROUP. BUT
AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE VERY ALERT TO AND OPEN
MINDED ABOUT, AND WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE ONE OF THESE
CASES, SO WE TREAT THEM WITH UTMOST SERIOUSNESS.
/// END ACT ///
SINCE THE SOVIET UNION COLLAPSED, WESTERN GOVERNMENTS HAVE
EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT A FORMER SOVIET NUCLEAR SCIENTIST MIGHT
SELL HIS KNOW-HOW TO A ROGUE STATE OR A CRIMINAL GROUP. MORE
RECENTLY, EXPERTS HAVE DISCUSSED THE POSSIBLE THEFT OF PORTABLE
NUCLEAR DEVICES KNOWN AS "SUITCASE BOMBS".
MR. FREEH SAYS THE F-B-I IS COOPERATING WITH RUSSIA'S DOMESTIC
INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, THE F-S-B, TO PREVENT THESE SO-CALLED "LOOSE
NUKES" FROM FALLING INTO THE HANDS OF TERRORISTS.
/// 2ND FREEH ACT ///
WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS HERE ON
SEVERAL CASES THEY BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION WHERE THE
CONCERNS HAD TO DO EXACTLY WITH THE THEFT AND
PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS. NONE OF THOSE CASES
RESULTED IN PROVING ANY LINK BETWEEN PARTICULAR THEFTS
OR SALES OF THOSE MATERIALS. WE'VE ALSO NOT SEEN ANY
CONNECTION BETWEEN ORGANIZED CRIME AND THAT ACTIVITY.
/// END ACT ///
MR. FREEH SAID RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES ASSURED HIM SUFFICIENT
CONTROLS ARE IN PLACE TO PROTECT NUCLEAR MATERIALS.
A COUNTERINTELLIGENCE EXPERT WITH THE RUSSIAN F-S-B, SERGEI
BOGDANOV, DESCRIBES THE TALK ABOUT "LOOSE NUKES" AS PROPAGANDA.
HE SAYS OF 150 CASES INVOLVING THE ATTEMPTED SALE OF NUCLEAR
MATERIAL IN RUSSIA, NONE INVOLVED SCIENTISTS OR WEAPONS-GRADE
MATERIALS.
/// BOGDANOV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///
MR. BOGDANOV SAID ALL THE CASES THEY INVESTIGATED INVOLVED
MATERIALS WHICH COULD NOT HAVE BEEN USED IN MAKING NUCLEAR
WEAPONS.
MOST EXPERTS AGREE RUSSIA REMAINS VULNERABLE TO THEFT AND BLACK
MARKET TRANSACTIONS OF WEAPONS-GRADE MATERIALS. BUT, AS ONE
WESTERN ANALYST SAID, WHILE THE PROBABILITY OF NUCLEAR TERRORISM
IS LOW, THE POTENTIAL COST IS GRAVE ENOUGH TO DESERVE CONSTANT
ATTENTION. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/JWH/EH
21-Nov-97 12:01 PM EST (1701 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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