DATE=3/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227819
TITLE=RUSSIA/U-S/IRAN (L)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER VICTOR CHERNOMYRDIN, NOW ON HIS
WAY TO WASHINGTON FOR TALKS WITH U-S OFFICIALS, HAS REAFFIRMED
THE KREMLIN'S COMMITMENT TO KEEP MISSILE TECHNOLOGY OUT OF
IRANIAN HANDS. VOA'S PETER HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW REPORTS THE RUSSIAN
OFFICIAL WAS RESPONDING TO A REPORT IN AN AMERICAN NEWSPAPER.
TEXT: PRIME MINISTER CHERNOMYRDIN SAYS RUSSIA HAS KEPT ITS
PROMISES NOT TO PROVIDE IRAN WITH WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY.
///CHERNOMYRDIN ACT IN RUSSIAN, THEN FADE TO...///
HE SAYS, "WE HAVE NOT BROKEN OUR AGREEMENTS, AND WE SHALL NOT
TRANSFER MISSILE OR NUCLEAR WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN."
THE RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER MADE THE COMMENT AS HE FLEW TO
WASHINGTON FOR TALKS WITH SENIOR OFFICIALS, INCLUDING HIS
TWICE-YEARLY MEETING WITH VICE-PRESIDENT AL GORE.
THE RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER'S CHIEF CONCERN IS INCREASING TRADE
WITH THE UNITED STATES. HE TOLD REPORTERS MONDAY BILATERAL TRADE
INCREASED SHARPLY SINCE THE GORE/CHERNOMYRDIN COMMISSION WAS
ESTABLISHED IN 1993.
///SECOND CHERNOMYRDIN ACT IN RUSSIAN, THEN FADE TO...///
HE SAYS "WE HAVE RESULTS. THE UNITED STATES IS IN FIRST PLACE
AMONG INVESTORS IN RUSSIA, AND BILATERAL TRADE IS UP TO EIGHT
BILLION DOLLARS."
THAT REPRESENTS A 50-PERCENT INCREASE IN FIVE YEARS, BUT IS STILL
SMALL COMPARED TO SEVERAL OTHER U-S TRADE PARTNERS.
AN ARTICLE IN MONDAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" NEWSPAPER SAYS AMERICAN
OFFICIALS ARE WITHHOLDING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN
SATELLITE LAUNCH CONTRACTS FROM RUSSIA UNTIL IT CLAMPS DOWN ON
THE TRANSFER OF MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN. THE ARTICLE SAYS THE
IRANIAN GOVERNMENT IS DEVELOPING A NEW MISSILE WITH A RANGE OF
13-HUNDRED KILOMETERS -- TWICE THE RANGE OF A SCUD MISSILE, AND
ENOUGH TO STRIKE ISRAEL.
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS PUBLICLY ORDERED TIGHTER
CONTROLS ON TECHNOLOGY EXPORTS.
///OPT/// LAST WEEK, VISITING ISRAELI TRADE MINISTER NATAN
SHARANSKY TOLD A MOSCOW NEWS CONFERENCE HE HAD NO REASON TO
BELIEVE THE KREMLIN HAD SUPPLIED MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN.
///END OPT///
BUT AS ONE U-S OFFICIAL EXPLAINS, "THE ORDERS OF TOP OFFICIALS
ARE NOT ALWAYS CARRIED OUT AT THE LOWER LEVELS OF THE
BUREAUCRACY". THE NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE INDICATED THE UNITED
STATES WAS PROVIDING RUSSIA WITH INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION ABOUT
SUSPECTED DEALS WITH IRAN, AND THE KREMLIN HAD RESPONDED BY
EXPELLING AN IRANIAN DIPLOMAT. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/PCF
09-Mar-98 10:15 AM EST (1515 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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