DATE=9/18/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / U-S (S-L)
NUMBER=2-254049
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Two Russian Air Force bombers approached
the Alaska coastline this week but were turned
back by U-S fighter jets. V-O-A Moscow
correspondent Eve Conant has a report.
TEXT: Russian Air Force officials express, in
their words, "surprise and regret" that two
Russian jets were intercepted by U-S jets near
the coast of Alaska.
Russian officials say the jets, called "Bear
Bombers," were on a routine training flight for
long-distance travel and that the aircraft was
flying in neutral airspace.
The Russian bombers turned around after two U-S
jets confronted them on Thursday. The Russian
Air Force press office issued a statement
saying that Russia does not take what it called
"hurried steps" when NATO intelligence aircraft
flies along the Russian border.
Thursday's incident is the closest Russian jets
have come to the Alaskan coastline in six
years. The Soviet Union regularly tested U-S
defenses by flying toward American airspace and
then turning around at the last minute.
///REST OPT FOR LONG///
U-S officials say they do not know why the
bombers approached U-S airspace. Russian
officials say the jets were following a normal
route that Russian aircraft had been flying for
over a week.
Thursday's incident comes a few days after U-S
Defense Secretary William Cohen visited Russia
to improve bilateral military ties between the
two countries. Russia froze relations with
NATO following the alliance's air campaign
against Yugoslavia earlier this year. (Signed)
NEB/EC/ALW/KL
18-Sep-1999 11:06 AM EDT (18-Sep-1999 1506 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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