RUSSIAN SECURITY CHIEF HEADS DELEGATION TO ISRAEL
ISRAEL LINE
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 1998
Nikolai Kovalev, the Director of Russia's security services, FSB, is
heading a delegation of eight Russian intelligence officials who arrived in
Israel on Monday and are scheduled to stay until Friday, HA'ARETZ reported.
Kovalev's arrival is believed to mark the first time an FSB chief has ever
visited Israel.
During his visit, Kovalev is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai, Minister of Industry
and Trade Natan Sharansky and his Israeli counterparts.
Sharansky, who coordinates the Government's relations with Russia, met
Kovalev during two visits to Moscow this year and has maintained close ties
with the Russians in an attempt to ensure that Russia stops the transfer of
ballistic missile technologies to Iran.
While Russia has tightened regulations governing the export of dual-use
technology, informed senior Israeli security officials say implementation
has been spotty at best, with many cases of alleged transfers remaining
unresolved. Officials believe Teheran will have sufficient technology next
year to produce its own prototype for surface-to-surface missiles that would
be capable of reaching Israel.
During Kovalev's visit, the two sides intend to discuss the Iranian issue,
as well as cooperation in combating terrorism and crime.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
