DATE=1/13/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244149
TITLE=RUSSIA/U-S SANCTIONS (L-UPDATE)(CQ)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: RUSSIA HAS ANGRILY DENOUNCED THE U-S DECISION TO IMPOSE
SANCTIONS ON THREE SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTES ACCUSED OF HELPING
IRAN'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM. FROM MOSCOW, V-O-A CORRESPONDENT
PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS THE INSTITUTES HAVE ISSUED SHARP DENIALS
OF THE U-S CHARGES.
TEXT: A CLEARLY-UPSET PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV GROPED FOR
WORDS WEDNESDAY AS HE FACED REPORTERS. HE CALLED THE SANCTIONS
A FURTHER SETBACK TO ALREADY-STRAINED RELATIONS BETWEEN MOSCOW
AND WASHINGTON.
/// PRIMAKOV ACT IN RUSSIAN, FADES UNDER ///
HE SAID, "STRONG-ARM METHODS OR SANCTIONS AGAINST OUR COMPANIES
ARE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE TO THE U-S / RUSSIA RELATIONSHIP, WHICH WE
CONSIDER OF GREAT IMPORTANCE."
THE FOREIGN MINISTRY LATER ISSUED A TOUGH STATEMENT LABELING THE
SANCTIONS A VIOLATION OF ACCORDS ON NUCLEAR COOPERATION.THE
STATEMENT SAID RUSSIA FINDS THE LANGUAGE OF SANCTIONS AND
PRESSURE "TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE."
THE COMMENTS CAME A DAY AFTER U-S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER SANDY
BERGER ANNOUNCED THE PUNITIVE ACTIONS, IN RESPONSE TO CONCERNS
THAT RUSSIAN TECHNOLOGY IS FINDING ITS WAY TO OTHER NATIONS, WITH
OR WITHOUT MOSCOW'S CONSENT. U-S OFFICIALS SAY RUSSIAN HELP HAS
BEEN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN SPEEDING UP IRAN'S ABILITY TO DEVELOP
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND THEIR DELIVERY SYSTEMS.
THE THREE INSTITUTIONS MR. BERGER NAMED (TUESDAY) ARE IN ADDITION
TO SEVEN OTHER RUSSIAN ENTITIES PENALIZED LAST JULY, DAYS AFTER
IRAN TEST-FIRED A MISSILE CAPABLE OF STRIKING ISRAEL AND OTHER
U-S ALLIES IN THE REGION.
THE IRANIAN EMBASSY IN MOSCOW SAID (IN A STATEMENT WEDNESDAY
THAT) TEHRAN HAS NO OFFICIAL CONTACT WITH THE RUSSIAN
ORGANIZATIONS. THE INSTITUTES IN QUESTION -- ALL OF WHICH STAND
TO LOSE CONTRACTS WITH U-S FIRMS BECAUSE OF THE SANCTIONS -- DENY
ANY PART IN SMUGGLING WEAPONS TECHNOLOGIES TO IRAN.
// OPT // THE DIRECTOR OF MOSCOW'S MENDELEYEV UNIVERSITY OF
CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY, PAVEL SARKISOV, SAYS MR. BERGER FAILED TO
BACK UP HIS ALLEGATIONS WITH EVIDENCE.
/// SARKISOV ACT IN RUSSIAN, FADES UNDER ///
HE SAYS MR. BERGER SIMPLY IMPOSED SANCTIONS ON ORGANIZATIONS THAT
HE ACCUSES OF GIVING SENSITIVE NUCLEAR-MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO
IRAN. MR. SARKISOV SAYS HIS UNIVERSITY DOES NOT DEAL IN SUCH
ISSUES, AND HE DEMANDS TO KNOW WHAT THE GROUNDS WERE FOR
SANCTIONS.
LAST WEEK, PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN TIGHTENED GOVERNMENT CONTROLS
OVER THE EXPORT OF TECHNOLOGY THAT COULD BE USED TO DEVELOP
MISSILES. THE PRESIDENTIAL NEWS SERVICE SAID MR. YELTSIN
BROADENED A LIST OF ITEMS THAT WILL BE BANNED FOR EXPORT, IN
ORDER TO PREVENT THE PROLIFERATION OF MISSILE TECHNOLOGIES.
SENIOR U-S OFFICIALS SAY MOSCOW'S EFFORTS TO CURB TECHNOLOGY
TRANSFERS FELL OFF SHARPLY IN THE SECOND HALF OF LAST YEAR, AFTER
SANCTIONS WERE IMPOSED ON THE FIRST SEVEN RUSSIAN SCIENTIFIC
INSTITUTES. // END OPT //
LAST MONTH, THE UNITED STATES WARNED OF NEW PENALTIES IN OTHER
AREAS -- INCLUDING THE LUCRATIVE SPACE LAUNCH BUSINESS -- UNLESS
RUSSIAN INSTITUTES END THEIR COOPERATION WITH IRAN'S BALLISTIC
MISSILE PROGRAM. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/RAE/WFR/GE/WTW
13-Jan-99 4:18 PM EST (2118 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
