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DATE=3/19/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246892
TITLE=ISRAEL / RUSSIA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=JERUSALEM,
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU LEAVES SUNDAY 
FOR A TWO-DAY VISIT TO RUSSIA, UKRAINE, AND GEORGIA.  V-O-A 
CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE IN JERUSALEM REPORTS RUSSIAN NUCLEAR 
AND MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS TO IRAN ARE EXPECTED TO TOP THE 
AGENDA. 
TEXT:  MR. NETANYAHU WILL USE HIS STOP IN MOSCOW TO URGE HIS 
RUSSIAN COUNTERPART, YEVGENY PRIMAKOV, TO END HIS COUNTRY'S 
NUCLEAR AND MISSILE TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE TO IRAN.  
ISRAEL REGARDS IRAN'S PROGRAM TO DEVELOP LONG-RANGE BALLISTIC 
MISSILES AND NON-CONVENTIONAL WARHEADS A TOP STRATEGIC THREAT.  
ISRAELI SECURITY OFFICIALS BELIEVE MOSCOW IS ASSISTING IRAN'S 
WEAPONS PROGRAMS, DESPITE RUSSIAN DENIALS.
MR. NETANYAHU'S SENIOR ADVISER DAVID BAR-ILAN IS CANDID ABOUT THE
PROBLEM, ACKNOWLEDGING THE LURE OF LUCRATATIVE DEALS WITH IRAN 
FOR RUSSIANS GRAPPLING WITH THEIR COUNTRY'S FINANCIAL CRISIS.
                  ///  BAR-ILAN ACTUALITY  ///
         IN PRINCIPLE, RUSSIA REALIZES THAT THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR 
         AND MISSILE THREAT IS  NOT  LIMITED TO ISRAEL.  IT 
         THREATENS THE WHOLE REGION, AND ULTIMATELY ALL OF 
         EUROPE, INCLUDING RUSSIA, AND CERTAINLY THE ISLAMIC 
         REPUBLICS BORDERING ON RUSSIA.  IN GENERAL, THE RUSSIANS
         WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS KIND OF DEVELOPMENT STOPPED.  THE
         QUESTION IS WHETHER THEY CAN STOP THIS LEAKAGE OF 
         MANPOWER AND MATERIAL TO IRAN, AND WHETHER THEY WANT TO 
         EXERT THE KIND OF EFFORT WE FEEL IS NECESSARY TO DO SO.
                        ///  END ACT  ///
RUSSIA RECENTLY SIGNED AN 800-MILLION DOLLAR DEAL WITH IRAN TO 
COMPLETE A NUCLEAR REACTOR IN THE SOUTHERN IRANIAN TOWN OF 
BUSHEHR -- DESPITE WESTERN CONCERNS THE PROJECT COULD BE USED TO 
DEVELOP NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
MR. NETANYAHU ALSO WILL USE HIS TRIP TO DISCUSS THE RECENT SURGE 
IN JEWISH EMIGRATION TO ISRAEL, WHERE ABOUT 800-THOUSAND PEOPLE 
HAVE MOVED FROM THE FORMER SOVIET UNION IN THE PAST DECADE.  HE 
IS ALSO EXPECTED TO DISCUSS THE APPARENT RISE IN ANTI-SEMITISM IN
RUSSIA.
AT HIS STOP IN KIEV, THE PRIME MINISTER IS TO MEET WITH UKRAINIAN
PRESIDENT LEONID KUCHMA.  HE IS TO EXPRESS HIS CONCERN OVER PLANS
BY UKRAINE TO DELIVER UPGRADED ARMY TANKS TO SYRIA.
BEFORE RETURNING HOME, MR. NETANYAHU WILL MAKE A BRIEF STOP IN 
TBLISI TO MET WITH GEORGIAN PRESIDENT EDUARD SHEVARDNADZE.  
(SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/JWH
19-Mar-99 12:30 PM EST (1730 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.