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DATE=3/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246501
TITLE=RUSSIA / FOOD (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE FIRST DELIVERY OF UNITED STATES FOOD AID TO RUSSIA IS
SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE SOON (EDS: LATE THURSDAY, LOCAL TIME) AT THE 
PORT OF ST. PETERSBURG.  AS VOA'S EVE CONANT REPORTS FROM MOSCOW,
BOTH U-S AND RUSSIAN OFFICIALS ARE TAKING EXTRA PRECAUTIONS TO 
AVOID ANY OFFICIAL CORRUPTION. 
TEXT:  THE UNITED STATES AGREED TO SEND THE NEARLY ONE-BILLION 
DOLLAR FOOD AID PACKAGE TO RUSSIA FOLLOWING AN ECONOMIC CRISIS 
THAT BEGAN LAST AUGUST AND SAW RUSSIA'S CURRENCY -- THE RUBLE - 
FALL ALMOST TO JUST ONE-QUARTER OF ITS FORMER VALUE. 
U-S OFFICIALS SAY TWO-THIRDS OF THE FOOD WILL BE DONATED TO THE 
MOST NEEDY.  THE OTHER THIRD WILL BE SOLD AT MARKET PRICES.  THE 
OFFICIALS SAY PROFITS WILL GO TO A RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT FUND TO 
HELP PAY OVERDUE PENSIONS TO THE ELDERLY, WHO WERE HARD-HIT BY 
THE FINANCIAL CRISIS.
BUT U-S OFFICIALS WORRY THAT AID FUNDS WILL FALL INTO CORRUPT 
HANDS. PREVIOUS AID DEALS TO RUSSIA WERE REPORTEDLY RIDDLED WITH 
GRAFT, SO THIS TIME DISTRIBUTION IS BEING CLOSELY MONITORED. U-S 
AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA JAMES COLLINS WARNED THURSDAY THE DEAL CAN 
BE CANCELLED AT ANY TIME. 
                   //OPT// ///COLLINS ACT///  
         I READ A GREAT DEAL IN THE PRESS -- IN THE AMERICAN AND 
         RUSSIAN PRESS -- ABOUT HOW EVERYONE ASSUMES SOMEHOW THIS
         COMMODITY CANNOT BE DELIVERED IN AN HONEST AND DECENT 
         WAY TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.
                          ///END ACT///
BUT AMBASSADOR COLLINS SAYS THIS DEAL WILL BE DIFFERENT.
                    ///SECOND COLLINS ACT///
         I'M SIMPLY HERE TO TELL YOU THAT  //END OPT// WE HAVE 
         WORKED VERY HARD WITH THE OFFICIALS OF THE RUSSIAN 
         GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES TO
         CREATE A PROGRAM, WHICH IN OUR JUDGMENT WILL PROVIDE THE
         BEST ASSURANCE WE CAN THAT THESE COMMODITIES WILL REACH 
         THE PEOPLE AND SITES FOR WHOM THEY ARE INTENDED.
                          ///END ACT///
THE RUSSIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER IN CHARGE OF RECEIVING THE AID 
SAYS THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF SUCH ASSISTANCE, 
THERE IS ABSOLUTE TRANSPARENCY -- OR COMPLETE OPENNESS IN THE 
DEAL. (SIGNED) 
NEB/EC/PCF
11-Mar-99 10:02 AM EST (1502 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.