DATE= 10/27/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-221794
TITLE=U-S / RUSSIA COMPUTERS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN
DATELINE=STATE DEPT.
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS INVESTIGATING WHETHER RUSSIA ACQUIRED
16 AMERICAN COMPUTERS FOR ITS NUCLEAR WEAPONS WORK DESPITE
OBJECTIONS FROM THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS
FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
TEXT: AMERICAN LAWS FORBID SALES OF ANY COMPUTERS TO RUSSIA IF
THEY ARE INTENDED FOR USE AT A NUCLEAR WEAPONS LABORATORY --
UNLESS THE SALE HAS PRIOR U-S GOVERNMENT APPROVAL. THE STATE
DEPARTMENT SAYS NO GOVERNMENT APPROVAL WAS GIVEN FOR 16 ADVANCED
COMPUTERS THAT HAVE BEEN FOUND AT RUSSIAN NUCLEAR WEAPONS
LABORATORIES.
THE COMPUTERS CAN BE USED TO TEST THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF
RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS WITHOUT ACTUAL EXPLOSIONS. STATE
DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION
NEVER GAVE RUSSIA A PROMISE OF ADVANCED COMPUTERS IN EXCHANGE FOR
RUSSIA SIGNING THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY.
///RUBIN ACT///
AT NO TIME DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE
TEST BAN OR SUBSEQUENTLY DID WE EVER MAKE A STATEMENT
THAT COULD BE FAIRLY CONSTRUED AS INDICATING A U-S
COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE RUSSIA WITH ACCESS TO THESE KIND
OF COMPUTERS. WHAT WE DID DO IS MAKE CLEAR TO THE
RUSSIANS THAT WE WERE PREPARED TO ENGAGE IN EXTENSIVE
SCIENTIFIC EXCHANGE AND THAT WE WERE PREPARED TO HAVE
THOSE EXCHANGES BE AT THE UNCLASSIFIED LEVEL -- BUT WE
DID NOT PROVIDE ANY REASONABLE BASIS FOR THEM TO DRAW
THIS CONCLUSION.
//END ACT///
THE U-S COMMERCE DEPARTMENT AND THE CUSTOMS SERVICE ARE
INVESTIGATING HOW ADVANCED I-B-M COMPUTERS ENDED UP AT RUSSIAN
NUCLEAR WEAPONS LABORATORIES. I-B-M COULD BE SUBJECT TO PENALTIES
IF THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THE AMERICAN COMPANY KNEW ABOUT THE
DESTINATION OF THESE COMPUTERS.
SPOKESMAN RUBIN DRAWS A DISTINCTION BETWEEN AMERICAN ASSISTANCE
TO ENSURING THE SECURITY OF RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS -- AND THIS
KIND OF HELP FOR RUSSIA TO TEST WHETHER ITS WEAPONS WORK AS
DESIGNED.
///RUBIN ACT///
WE ARE PREPARED IN MANY CASES TO PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT
ASSISTANCE WHEN IT COMES TO SECURITY OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
OR NUCLEAR MATERIAL BUT AS FAR AS JUST MAKING THEIR
NUCLEAR TESTING, THEIR SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM BETTER, WE
DON'T THINK THAT IT'S A PARTICULARLY WISE USE OF
AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY.
///END ACT///
AT THE SAME TIME, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT IS PREPARED TO
LISTEN TO RUSSIA'S SUGGESTION THAT THE ADVANCED I-B-M COMPUTERS
BE TRANSFERRED TO RUSSIAN CIVILIAN FACILITIES FROM THE NUCLEAR
LABORATORIES.
THIS IS A DELICATE ISSUE FOR THE UNITED STATES. WHILE IT CALLS
FOR THE COMPUTERS TO BE RETURNED, IT DOES NOT WANT TO DISTURB
RATIFICATION OF THE STRATEGIC ARMS AGREEMENT IN THE RUSSIAN DUMA.
IT ALSO DOES NOT WANT TO DISCOURAGE AMERICAN COMPUTER MAKERS FROM
MAKING SALES TO RUSSIA'S CIVILIAN MARKET. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/RRM
27-Oct-97 6:24 PM EST (2324 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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