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DATE=3/18/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246848
TITLE=U-S / RUSSIA / IRAN (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE UNITED STATES HAS WELCOMED A RUSSIAN OFFER TO CURTAIL
NUCLEAR COOPERATION WITH IRAN.   BUT U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY WANT 
TO SEE ACTION BEFORE LIFTING SANCTIONS AGAINST TWO RUSSIAN 
NUCLEAR RESEARCH CENTERS.  FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S 
KYLE KING REPORTS. 
TEXT:  THE RUSSIAN OFFER TO LIMIT ITS NUCLEAR COOPERATION WITH 
IRAN WAS MADE BY RUSSIAN ENERGY MINISTER YEVGENY ADAMOV. 
COOPERATION WITH IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM HAS BEEN A MAJOR SOURCE 
OF FRICTION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA.  IN JANUARY, 
THE UNITED STATES IMPOSED SANCTIONS AGAINST TWO KEY RUSSIAN 
NUCLEAR RESEARCH INSTITUTES, AFTER THEY WERE ACCUSED OF HAVING 
ILLICIT TIES WITH IRAN. 
THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTS THAT MR. ADAMOV OFFERED TO SIGN 
DOCUMENTS INSURING THE INSTITUTES HAVE CUT OFF ALL CONTACTS WITH 
IRAN, IN EXCHANGE FOR AN END OF THE U-S SANCTIONS.
STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY CALLED THE OFFER 
POTENTIALLY POSITIVE. 
                     // FOLEY ACT //       
         WE WELCOME STATEMENTS BY MINISTER ADAMOV THAT RUSSIA IS 
         WILLING TO CURTAIL ILLICIT COOPERATION WITH IRAN'S 
         NUCLEAR PROGRAM.  SO THIS IS A POTENTIALLY POSITIVE 
         STATEMENT ON HIS PART.  ONGOING RUSSIAN COOPERATION WITH
         IRAN REMAINS A SERIOUS CONCERN THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING 
         INTENSIVELY WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF RUSSIA.  WE WOULD 
         LIKE TO SEE ACTION TAKEN TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM BEFORE 
         THE PENALTIES CAN BE RECONSIDERED. 
                         // END ACT // 
RUSSIA IS ANXIOUS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE BECAUSE U-S SANCTIONS 
DEPRIVE CASH-STRAPPED SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTES OF MILLIONS OF 
DOLLARS WORTH OF WORK. 
RUSSIA HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH IRAN TO HELP WITH THE CONSTRUCTION 
OF SEVERAL NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS.  BUT U-S OFFICIALS ARE 
CONCERNED THAT THE COOPERATION MAY EXPAND TO INCLUDE TECHNOLOGY 
THAT COULD HELP IRAN PRODUCE MATERIALS FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS. 
U-S OFFICIALS SAY IT IS POSSIBLE AN AGREEMENT COULD BE REACHED BY
NEXT WEEK WHEN RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV WILL BE IN
WASHINGTON FOR TALKS ON SECURITY ISSUES. 
                        // REST OPT //  
MR. PRIMAKOV IS ALSO EXPECTED TO SEEK U-S SUPPORT FOR EFFORTS TO 
ATTRACT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN INTERNATIONAL CREDITS TO TRY TO 
REVIVE RUSSIA'S SAGGING ECONOMY. 
U-S ENERGY DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAY THEY ALSO HAVE AN INTEREST IN
SEEING THE SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA LIFTED.  THE OFFICIALS POINT 
OUT THE RUSSIAN INSTITUTES ARE INVOLVED IN IMPORTANT WORK 
INVOLVING THE SAFETY OF RUSSIAN-MADE NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS LIKE 
THE ONE IN CHERNOBYL. (SIGNED) 
NEB/KBK/JO
18-Mar-99 5:10 PM EST (2210 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.