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24 April 2000

Text: State Department Spokesman on Russia-Iran Missile Issues

(April 24: Statement by James Rubin) (500)
State Department Spokesman James Rubin said April 24 that the Russian
government's decision to take action against an individual believed to
have been involved in the transfer of sensitive missile technology to
Iran "demonstrates Russia's commitment" to halting such transfers and
"underscores the importance of continued U.S.-Russia cooperation."
"The United States will continue to urge the Russian leadership to
strengthen implementation of controls on exports to Iran and to
enforce compliance with Russia's laws, policies, and international
understandings on such transfers," Rubin said.
Following is the text of Rubin's statement:
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
April 24, 2000
Statement by James P. Rubin, Spokesman
RUSSIA-IRAN MISSILE ISSUES
The Russian Ministry of Education has concluded a special
investigation of the Rector of the Baltic State Technical University
(BSTU), Yuri Savel'ev, for involvement in the transfer of sensitive
technology to Iran. The Rector is believed to have violated Russian
export controls and attempted to export goods or services that could
contribute to missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass
destruction (WMD). The investigation revealed a number of violations
of procedures for enrolling foreign students and resulted in
administrative action against the Rector and cancellation of
specialized courses for Iranian students and training of Iranian
specialists at BSTU. The Russian government's decision to take action
against the Rector of BSTU demonstrates Russia's commitment to
stopping the flow of sensitive technologies to Iran and underscores
the importance of continued U.S.-Russian cooperation in combating the
threat posed by Iran's aggressive pursuit of WMD and their delivery
systems.
In July 1998, the United States Government imposed trade and
administrative penalties on BSTU for its involvement with Iran.
Consistent with the Russian government's actions, and with our own
assessment, the United States now also will move to impose a ban on
U.S. government assistance to and procurement from the Rector of BSTU
and proceed to impose a ban on imports from and U.S. exports to this
person.
The United States will continue to urge the Russian leadership to
strengthen implementation of controls on exports to Iran and to
enforce compliance with Russia's laws, policies, and international
understandings on such transfers. The U.S. government is prepared to
lift penalties against entities and individuals that refrain from
sensitive technology cooperation with Iran to the extent consistent
with U.S. law and regulation. In this connection, the United States
intends to remove restrictions imposed in July 1998 on two Russian
entities -- INOR Scientific Center and Polyus Scientific Production
Association -- which have ceased the proliferant behavior that led to
the imposition of these penalties. Trade penalties imposed in July
1998 against five other Russian entities, including BSTU, and in
January 1999 against three additional entities, will remain in place.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)