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DATE=3/17/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246768
TITLE=RUSSIA / U-S NUCLEAR (L ONLY)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  RUSSIA IS OFFERING TO CUT BACK NUCLEAR ASSISTANCE TO IRAN
IF THE UNITED STATES ENDS CRIPPLING SANCTIONS AGAINST TWO OF 
RUSSIA'S LEADING NUCLEAR RESEARCH INSTITUTES.  V-O-A'S PETER 
HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW REPORTS RUSSIAN SCIENTISTS ARE HOPING THE 
PENALTIES MAY BE DROPPED AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK.
TEXT:  ATOMIC ENERGY MINISTER YEVGENY ADAMOV SAYS HE HAS ALREADY 
ORDERED RUSSIA'S TOP SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND DESIGN INSTITUTE, 
KNOWN AS NIKIET, TO HALT COOPERATION WITH THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT.
         ///  ADAMOV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER  ///
HE SAYS "WE EXCLUDED THIS INSTITUTE FROM CONTACTS WITH IRAN."  HE
EXPRESSED HOPE THE MOVE WOULD BE TAKEN AS A SIGN OF WILLINGNESS 
TO ADDRESS U-S CONCERNS ABOUT THE SPREAD OF RUSSIAN NUCLEAR 
TECHNOLOGY.
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SLAPPED TOUGH SANCTIONS ON TEN RUSSIAN
RESEARCH INSTITUTES OVER THE PAST YEAR, ACCUSING THEM OF LEAKING 
WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN.  BUT THE NEW YORK TIMES NEWSPAPER 
WEDNESDAY QUOTED A U-S OFFICIAL AS SAYING THE PRESTIGIOUS NIKIET 
FACILITY IS THEIR MAIN CONCERN.
MR. ADAMOV -- WHO SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF NIKIET BEFORE BEING 
APPOINTED TO THE CABINET -- SPOKE TO REPORTERS IN ADVANCE OF A 
TRIP TO WASHINGTON FOR TALKS WITH SENIOR U-S OFFICIALS.  HE 
INDICATED PRELIMINARY TALKS HAD GIVEN HIM HOPE THE SANCTIONS WILL
BE ENDED.
         ///  ADAMOV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER  ///
HE SAYS "I TOLD THE AMERICANS IF THEY HAVE A REASONABLE APPROACH 
TO SANCTIONS, THEN AFTER I ORDERED NIKIET TO HALT CONTACTS WITH 
IRAN, THEY WOULD REMOVE THOSE PENALTIES AGAINST THEM".  
HE INDICATED A SIMILAR DEAL COULD BE WORKED OUT WITH ANOTHER  
PRIME TARGET OF U-S CONCERN, THE MENDELEYV UNIVERSITY OF CHEMICAL
TECHNOLOGY NEAR MOSCOW.
THE SANCTIONS ARE COSTING RUSSIAN NUCLEAR INSTITUTES SUCH AS 
NIKIET MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CONTRACTS.  MR.
ADAMOV SAYS HIS GOAL IS TO HAVE THE SANCTIONS ENDED WHEN PRIME 
MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV VISITS WASHINGTON NEXT WEEK.
BUT A U-S EMBASSY OFFICIAL IN MOSCOW SAID TOUGH NEGOTIATIONS  
STILL REMAIN.  THE OFFICIAL, WHO SPOKE ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY,
SAID THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT CONTACTS WITH IRAN ARE CONTINUING.  
(SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/JWH
17-Mar-99 1:47 PM EST (1847 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.