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DATE=4/2/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247578
TITLE=U-S / RUSSIA WRAP (L)
BYLINE= KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE UNITED STATES HAS IMPOSED SANCTIONS ON THREE RUSSIAN 
FIRMS FOR ALLEGEDLY SUPPLYING ANTI-TANK MISSILES TO SYRIA -- A 
COUNTRY WASHINGTON HAS DESIGNATED AS A SPONSOR OF TERRORISM.  THE
ACTION IS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF DISPUTES BETWEEN WASHINGTON 
AND MOSCOW, AND COMES AMID RUSSIAN ANGER AT NATO AIR STRIKES 
AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA.  V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM THE STATE 
DEPARTMENT.
TEXT:   STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS THE RUSSIAN 
GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN NOTIFIED THAT SANCTIONS ARE BEING 
IMPOSED ON THREE RUSSIAN FIRMS. 
                        // RUBIN ACT // 
         IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW, THE SECRETARY HAS DETERMINED
         THAT RUSSIA HAS TRANSFERRED LETHAL MILITARY EQUIPMENT, 
         SPECIFICALLY ANTI-TANK GUIDED MISSILES TO SYRIA.  SHE 
         HAS DECIDED TO SANCTION THE THREE RUSSIAN FIRMS DIRECTLY
         INVOLVED IN THE TRANSACTIONS. 
                         // END ACT // 
// OPT // THE SANCTIONS CUT OFF ALL U-S ASSISTANCE TO THE FIRMS 
(EDS: THE TULA DESIGN BUREAU, THE VOLSK MECHANICAL PLANT AND THE 
TZNIITOCHMASH) AND BAN THE U-S GOVERNMENT FROM DOING BUSINESS 
WITH THEM.  IT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY CLEAR HOW MUCH MONEY THE FIRMS
WOULD LOSE, BUT THE SANCTIONS ARE TO REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR ONE 
YEAR AFTER THE TRANSFERS HAVE ENDED OR UNTIL THE SECRETARY OF 
STATE DECIDES TO WAVE THEM. // END OPT // 
MR. RUBIN SAID THE SECRETARY OF STATE DECIDED NOT TO IMPOSE 
SANCTIONS ON THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT, A MOVE THAT WOULD HAVE CUT 
OFF ABOUT 90 MILLION DOLLARS IN BADLY NEEDED ASSISTANCE. 
SANCTIONS AGAINST THE CASH STRAPPED RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE
BEEN ANOTHER SETBACK FOR ALREADY STRAINED RELATIONS BETWEEN 
WASHINGTON AND MOSCOW. 
IN JANUARY, THE UNITED STATES IMPOSED SANCTIONS AGAINST TWO KEY 
RUSSIAN NUCLEAR RESEARCH INSTITUTES, AFTER THEY WERE ACCUSED OF 
HAVING ILLICIT TIES WITH IRAN.
RUSSIA HAS ALSO SHARPLY CRITICIZED NATO'S WEEK OLD BOMBING 
CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE SERB-LED YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT. PRESIDENT 
YELTSIN HAS DISPATCHED AN INTELLIGENCE GATHERING SHIP TO THE 
MEDITERRANEAN AND IS CONSIDERING SENDING OTHER WARSHIPS. 
STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAY DESPITE THEIR DISAGREEMENTS, THE 
TWO COUNTRIES CONTINUE TO HAVE AREAS OF COMMON INTEREST, AND 
SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT HAS BEEN IN REGULAR CONTACT WITH 
RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV.
PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HE UNDERSTANDS RUSSIAN OBJECTIONS TO NATO 
ACTIONS IN YUGOSLAVIA, BUT HE BELIEVES THE RUSSIANS WANT TO PLAY 
A CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE. 
                       // CLINTON ACT // 
         THEY ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO CONTINUE TO OPPOSE WHAT 
         NATO IS DOING BUT TO LEAVE OPEN THE PROSPECT THAT THEY 
         CAN PLAY A VERY CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE IN MAKING PEACE.  I 
         DON'T THINK ANYONE WANTS THIS CONFLICT TO ESCALATE AND I
         CERTAINLY DON'T THINK THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT DOES.
                         // END ACT // 
U-S OFFICIALS SAY IT WOULD BE A GRAVE MISTAKE FOR RUSSIA TO MOVE 
FROM SYMPATHY TO ANY DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO THE SERBS.  THE 
RUSSIANS SAY THEY HAVE NO PLANS TO DO SO.  (SIGNED) 
NEB/KBK/JO
02-Apr-99 4:36 PM EST (2136 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.