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1998 Russia Special Weapons
Nuclear, Biological, Chemical and Missile
Proliferation News

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December

• RUSSIA MISSILES Voice of America 27 December 1998 -- RUSSIA HAS BEGUN ACTIVATING A NEW GENERATION OF NUCLEAR-CAPABLE BALLISTIC MISSILES. RUSSIA'S DEFENSE MINISTER IGOR SERGEYEV INAUGURATED THE FIRST REGIMENT OF 10 NEW "TOPOL-M" MISSILES.
• RUSSIA EXTREMISM Voice of America 27 December 1998 -- RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS PLEDGED TO MOUNT A CAMPAIGN AGAINST WHAT MANY SEE AS AN ALARMING RISE IN EXTREMISM ACCOMPANYING THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS.
• RUSSIA / BELARUS Voice of America 25 December 1998 -- THE PRESIDENTS OF RUSSIA AND BELARUS HAVE AGREED TO MOVE CLOSER TOWARD A MERGER OF THEIR TWO FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS, POSSIBLY AS EARLY AS NEXT YEAR.
• RUSSIA BUDGET Voice of America 24 December 1998 -- RUSSIA'S DUMA, OR LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT, HAS GIVEN INITIAL APPROVAL TO AN AUSTERITY BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR.
• TEXT: GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES SIGNING RUSSIAN FOOD AID AGREEMENTS USIA 23 December 1998 -- U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said the United States and Russia have signed two agreements that will provide an estimated three million metric tons of U.S. grains, meats, oilseeds and dry milk worth approximately $830 million to Russia.
• RUSSIAN ECONOMY Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- A RUSSIAN-BORN CONSULTANT TO THE U-S TREASURY DEPARTMENT, IGOR BIRMAN, FRIDAY TOLD A WASHINGTON FORUM THAT RUSSIA'S ECONOMIC SITUATION IS GRIM AND GETTING STEADILY WORSE.
• YEARENDER: U.S. / RUSSIA SPACE '98 Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- THE JOINT SPACE PROJECT THE UNITED STATES, RUSSIA, AND 14 OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARD FOR YEARS FINALLY GOT UNDERWAY THIS YEAR.
• SHUTTLE / SPACEWALK Voice of America 13 December 1998 -- TWO U-S ASTRONAUTS HAVE COMPLETED THE LAST OF THREE SPACEWALKS OUTSIDE THE SHUTTLE "ENDEAVOUR" -- PREPARING THE NEW INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEXT CONSTRUCTION CREW IN MAY.
• SPACE STATION / SEPARATION Voice of America 13 December 1998 -- THE U-S SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR UNDOCKED FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ONE WEEK AFTER THE RUSSIAN-MADE "ZARYA" MODULE AND THE AMERICAN-BUILT UNITY MODULE WERE CONNECTED AND TWO SPACEWALKING ASTRONAUTS BEGAN CONSTRUCTION ON THE SPACE STATION.
• RUSSIA / U-S Voice of America 11 December 1998 -- A HIGH-LEVEL U-S DELEGATION VISITING MOSCOW HAS URGED RUSSIA TO TAKE STRONGER MEASURES TO PREVENT THE TRANSFER OF MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN.
• SHUTTLE / STATION DEPARTURE Voice of America 11 December 1998 -- THE U-S SPACE SHUTTLE "ENDEAVOUR" CREW HAS CLOSED THE DOORS TO THE NEW INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ONE DAY AFTER BECOMING THE FIRST TO ENTER.
• SHUTTLE / STATION ENTRANCE Voice of America 10 December 1998 -- THE U-S SPACE SHUTTLE "ENDEAVOUR" CREW HAS ENTERED THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE JOINING THE FIRST TWO MODULES EARLIER THIS WEEK.
• State Department Briefing -- 08 December 1998 -- The US Government remains concerned about Iranian attempts to obtain any weapons of mass destruction technology from Russia or other countries. The US Government has provided over $30 million in assistance to former Soviet bio-technology institutes from Fiscal Year '92 through '98, through a number of programs designed to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and delivery system expertise from the former Soviet Union, and to secure weapons material. Nearly $2 million more has been allocated for these activities in Fiscal Year '99.
• KIRIYENKO SPEAKS AT NATIONAL PRESS CLUB By Rick Marshall USIA 07 December 1998 -- Five months in office led Kiriyenko to conclude that the deepest problem Russia faces is a fundamental lack of consensus. This point he emphasized several times. Looking back over the past seven years, he said, it is clear that no one calculated the time it would take Russian society and the Russian people to change.
• TEXT: RFE/RL PRESS RELEASE ON COMMENTS BY RUSSIA'S YELENA BONNER USIA 04 December 1998 -- Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty issued a press release about comments that Russian human rights activist Yelena Bonner, widow of Nobel laureate Andrei Sakharov, made on the human rights and political situation in Russia.
• SHUTTLE CREW LIFTS OFF TO START BUILDING SPACE STATION By Jim Fuller USIA 04 December 1998 -- The U.S. space shuttle Endeavour has blasted off with six crew members who will begin construction of the International Space Station -- the largest and most complex cooperative space venture in history.
• 'THE END OF A SUPERPOWER': RUSSIA FACING POLITICAL PARALYSIS, ECONOMIC COLLAPSE USIS Foreign Media Reaction Report -- December 1, 1998 -- News out of Russia in recent weeks has triggered extensive overseas comment, leaving all media to agree with one writer's bleak assessment that "Russia, as a whole, is in pieces." Several analysts shared the opinion that Russia's internal problems have diminished "its international status [to] that of a beggar."

  November

• U-S / SPACE STATION LAUNCH PREVIEW Voice of America 30 November 1998 -- ASSEMBLY OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION BEGINS THIS WEEKEND WHEN A RUSSIAN MODULE ALREADY IN ORBIT IS JOINED WITH A U-S COMPARTMENT SCHEDULED FOR LAUNCH ON THURSDAY [12/3, 3:59 A.M. EST] ABOARD THE SPACE SHUTTLE "ENDEAVOUR."
• TEXT: GORE ON LAUNCHING FIRST PART OF INT'L SPACE STATION USIA 20 November 1998 -- The first element of the largest and most complex international scientific project in history, the International Space Station, successfully lifted-off on November 20 atop a Russian proton rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakstan, Vice President Gore has announced.
• SPACE LAUNCH Voice of America 20 November 1998 -- THE FIRST MODULE OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION IS PERFORMING FLAWLESSLY SO FAR IN EARTH ORBIT, HERALDING THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA IN SPACE EXPLORATION.
• U-S / RUSSIA / SPACE STATION Voice of America 18 November 1998 -- ZARYA'S LIFT-OFF MARKS THE START OF THE MOST AMBITIOUS INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC-WORKS PROGRAM EVER ATTEMPTED, AFTER DELAYS CAUSED BY U-S REDESIGNS AND RUSSIAN FINANCIAL PROBLEMS.
• RUSSIA / NUKES Voice of America 17 November 1998 -- U-S SENATOR ROBERT KERREY OF NEBRASKA, SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS AN URGENT NATIONAL SECURITY INTEREST TO HELP RUSSIA REDUCE ITS NUCLEAR ARSENAL AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
• SPACE STATION-PREP Voice of America 17 November 1998 -- THE FIRST COMPONENT OF THE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION IS POISED ON A LAUNCH PAD IN THE DESERT OF CENTRAL ASIA.
• SPACE STATION / MISSION Voice of America 15 November 1998 -- "ZARYA" -- THE FIRST COMPONENT OF THE NEW INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION -- IS SCHEDULED TO BLAST OFF FROM RUSSIA'S BAIKONUR COSMODROME.
• RUSSIA SPACE Voice of America 10 November 1998 -- RUSSIA'S SPACE AGENCY HAS WITHDRAWN A LAST MINUTE PROPOSAL THAT WOULD HAVE DELAYED THE LAUNCH OF THE FIRST PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing , NOVEMBER 9, 1998 -- QUESTION: Talbott's speech went well beyond the economic relationship. He talked about chaos in the Soviet Union and a reassessment of the United States' strategic position towards Russia - diplomatic, strategic and military position towards Russia. It was really quite an alarming speech if you read it closely.
• Gogol's Troika: The Case for Strategic Patience in a Time of Troubles Deputy Secretary Strobe Talbott Address at Stanford University, Stanford, California, November 6, 1998 -- The U.S. has been committed to encourage and assist Russia in its evolution toward becoming a normal, modern, prosperous, democratic state -- at peace with itself and its neighbors, a full member and beneficiary of an increasingly interdependent world community. For the last decade or so, despite the zigs and zags, Russia has been moving in that direction. Still, it is too early to proclaim Russian democratization irreversible. Some parts of the country are, at least relatively speaking, oases of liberalization, for example, Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Leningrad and Sverdlovsk oblasts. Other regions remain, or have become, Jurassic-like theme parks of Soviet-era policies and personalities, to wit, Kursk, Krasnodar, Belgorod, Pskov, Volgograd. A few are simply weird, like Kalmykia, where President Ilyuzhimov reigns as a kind of Wizard of Oz. The question of the last several months is whether Russia has in some fundamental way shifted course, heading at break-neck speed back to the future or over the precipice. The longer the economic meltdown continues and the more serious it becomes, the harder it will be for Russia to sustain and consolidate the various institutions and habits of what might be called political normalcy. As Russia asserts its own special needs and distances itself from the West on the economic front, we may be in for heightened tensions over security and diplomatic issues. This bleak view of Russia's future is, at a minimum, premature. It may turn out to be dead wrong. Or, perversely, we could make it come true.
• TEXT: U.S., RUSSIA AGREE ON FOOD AID PACKAGE USIA 06 November 1998 -- U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman says the details of a $625 million food assistance package have been worked out that will provide at least 3.1 million metric tons of U.S. food to Russia.
• TEXT: TALBOTT VIEWS SITUATION IN RUSSIA, KOSOVO USIA 05 November 1998 -- "The Russians' future course is no one's choice but their own," U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott said in a November 5 speech to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council.

  October

• INTERVIEW OF THE PRESIDENT WITH CNN The White House Briefing Room 29 October 1998 -- "John Glenn began this first phase of our space program, and he's ending it just before we start on the space station."
• RUSSIA: WHAT WENT WRONG? Voice of America 29 October 1998 -- THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION CALLED ITS CONFERENCE, "WHAT WENT WRONG IN RUSSIA?" TO TALK ABOUT THE COLLAPSE OF THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY AND RECENT SHIFTS IN THE COUNTRY'S LEADERSHIP.
• 'RUSSIA ADRIFT' WITH 'MORIBUND PRESIDENT, BANKRUPT GOVERNMENT' USIS Foreign Media Reaction Report October 28, 1998 -- Since the appointment of Yevgeny Primakov as Russian prime minister, the vast majority of foreign media weighed in with dismal assessments of Moscow's prospects for resolving its economic crisis. Many editorials judged Russia's financial troubles especially worrisome, since they coincide with the political uncertainly caused by concern over President Yeltsin's health.
• THE CONTINUING CRISIS IN RUSSIA Voice of America 10 October 1998 -- THE CRISIS IN RUSSIA IS INTENSIFYING. RUSSIA HAS DEFAULTED ON ITS FOREIGN DEBTS. THE RUSSIAN STOCK MARKET HAS VIRTUALLY COLLAPSED.
• TEXT: NASA ON LAUNCHES OF INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION MODULES USIA 08 October 1998 -- Launches of the Zarya and Unity modules -- components of the first International Space Station -- will remain on schedule following a series of technical meetings in Moscow, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced October 2. Zarya will launch November 20 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, while Unity will launch December 3 on the Space Shuttle Endeavour from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, NASA said.
• U-S/RUSSIA/SPACE STATION Voice of America 07 October 1998 -- THE HEAD OF THE U-S SPACE AGENCY HAS ASKED A HOSTILE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE FOR MORE MONEY TO HELP THE RUSSIAN SPACE AGENCY CONTINUE ITS ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION CONSTRUCTION.

  September

• TEXT: AMERICANS, RUSSIANS TO DISCUSS KOREAN WAR MIG SHOOTDOWNS USIA 23 September 1998 -- (Meeting set up by U.S.-Russia Joint Commission on POW/MIAs)
• Statement of Science Committee Chairman Sensenbrenner on Administration's Proposal To Pay Russian Space Agency Additional $660 Million 22 September 1998 -- American companies and workers should be given the opportunity to perform these services instead of simply sending more money overseas. I oppose the Administration's scheme to turn a vital and important science program like the Space Station into more Russian foreign aid.
• RUSSIA MEDIA Voice of America 21 September 1998 -- RUSSIA'S TWIN ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CRISES HAVE DEALT WHAT MANY VIEW AS A SEVERE BLOW TO THE FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION IN THE COUNTRY.
• U-S / RUSSIA / SPACE STATION Voice of America 21 September 1998 -- THE U-S SPACE AGENCY NASA SAYS IT NEEDS TO INJECT MORE MONEY INTO THE FINANCIALLY AILING RUSSIAN SPACE AGENCY TO HELP THE RUSSIAN FINISH A CRUCIAL PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
• U.S. / RUSSIA / SPACE STATION Voice of America 21 September 1998 -- THE U-S SPACE AGENCY NASA WILL ASK THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS FOR APPROVAL TO SPEND 660-MILLION DOLLARS MORE TO HELP SUPPORT RUSSIA'S FINANCIALLY AILING SPACE PROGRAM.
• TALBOTT/RUSSIA Voice of America 17 September 1998 -- TWO TOP CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS ARE DELIVERING STRONG WARNINGS ABOUT RUSSIA'S POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC FUTURE.
• SITUATION IN RUSSIA: 'NEW RED MENACE' IN THE OFFING? USIA Foreign Media Reaction Report September 17, 1998 -- Amidst news reports that the ruble has further weakened and statements today by Russian President Boris Yeltsin that the formation of the new Russian cabinet may take another week, a majority of commentators in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America expressed grave doubts about the economic and political future of Russia.
• DEFENSE FRAUD Voice of America 16 September 1998 -- THE SENTENCING OF TWO OFFICIALS OF A U-S ELECTRONICS COMPANY HAS EXPOSED THE POTENTIAL DANGERS IN ALLOWINGUNAUTHORIZED COUNTRIES TO MANUFACTURE SENSITIVE MILITARY TECHNOLOGY.
• RUSSIA'S FUTURE Voice of America 14 September 1998 -- RUSSIA HAS A NEW PRIME MINISTER. FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV IS PROMISING TO CHANGE THE APPROACH TO ECONOMIC REFORMS AND PROTECT RUSSIANS FROM THE FINANCIAL CRISIS.
• RUSSIA POL Voice of America 11 September 1998 -- THE LOWER HOUSE OF RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT -- THE DUMA -- HAS OVERWHELMINGLY ENDORSED THE NOMINATION OF YEVGENY PRIMAKOV AS PRIME MINISTER.
• PRIMAKOV PROFILE Voice of America 10 September 1998 -- MR. PRIMAKOV IS BEING SEEN AS A TRANSITIONAL FIGURE AS RUSSIA MOVES TOWARD THE POST-YELTSIN ERA.
• CLINTON TO MOSCOW AND NORTHERN IRELAND USIA Foreign Media Reaction Report September 8, 1998 -- While a majority of analysts overseas continued to weigh in with negative assessments of the Sept. 1-2 Clinton-Yeltsin summit, a solid minority remained steadfast in judging the meeting worthwhile.
• THE "IRRELEVANT" SUMMIT AND RUSSIA'S ONGOING CRISIS Voice of America 07 September 1998 -- AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS HAVE NOT BEEN KIND TO PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON OR RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN IN RECENT DAYS.
• TURKEY / URANIUM Voice of America 07 September 1998 -- POLICE IN TURKEY HAVE SEIZED SMUGGLED MATERIALS -- SOME OF WHICH COULD BE USED TO MAKE NUCLEAR WEAPONS. THE SMUGGLERS WERE TRYING TO SELL FOUR-AND-ONE-HALF KILOGRAMS OF UNPROCESSED URANIUM AND SIX GRAMS OF PLUTONIUM. THE NUCLEAR MATERIALS ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FROM RUSSIA.
• CLINTON RUSSIA Voice of America 02 September 1998 - PRESIDENT CLINTON AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAVE WRAPPED UP A MOSCOW SUMMIT DOMINATED BY DISCUSSION OF RUSSIA'S ECONOMIC CRISIS.
• BACKGROUND BRIEFING BY SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary -- 02 September 1998 - President Yeltsin did at the very end of this meeting produce a piece of paper, a kind of a non-paper, that made the proposal for a joint U.S.-Russian center located on Russian territory to help implement the shared early warning initiative that is, of course, now been publicized.
• TEXT: COMMON SECURITY CHALLENGES AT THRESHOLD OF THE 21ST CENTURY USIA 02 September 1998 -- President Clinton and President Yeltsin September 2 issued a joint statement declaring that "cooperation between the U.S. and Russia will be of the greatest import in the twenty-first century for promoting prosperity and strengthening security throughout the world."
• TEXT: CLINTON/YELTSIN ON EXCHANGE OF INFO ON MISSILE LAUNCHES USIA 02 September 1998 -- President Clinton and President Yeltsin issued a joint statement September 2 announcing that they had reached agreement on a cooperative initiative between the United States and Russia regarding the exchange of information on missile launches and early warning.
• Joint Statement on the Exchange of Information on Missile Launches and Early Warning USIA 02 September 1998 -- US, Russia strengthen strategic and regional stability (The following Fact Sheet on the Exchange of Information on Missile Launches and Early Warning was issued by the White House on September 2, 1998 in Moscow)
• TEXT: CLINTON-YELTSIN STATEMENT ON PLUTONIUM DISPOSAL USIA 02 September 1998 -- Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin have agreed that the United States and Russia will each remove approximately 50 metric tons of plutonium from their respective nuclear weapons programs and convert it into a form that will assure it can never again be used in such weapons.
• FACT SHEET: PLUTONIUM DISPOSITION 02 September 1998 -- (The following Fact Sheet on Plutonium Disposition was issued by the White House on September 2, 1998 in Moscow)
• TEXT: CLINTON/YELTSIN ON PROTOCOL TO CONVENTION ON BIO WEAPONS USIA 02 September 1998 -- President Clinton and President Yeltsin issued a joint statement September 2 recognizing the threat posed by biological weapons, and expressing strong support "for the aims and tasks of the Ad Hoc Group of States Parties."
• U.S., RUSSIA DEDICATE NUCLEAR DETECTION TECHNOLOGY USIA 02 September 1998 -- U.S. Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson and Russian State Customs Committee Chairman Valeriy Draganov dedicated the installation of equipment to combat the trafficking of illicit nuclear materials, in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Moscow's Sheremetyevo-1 international airport.
• FACT SHEET: U.S.-RUSSIAN EXPORT CONTROL COOPERATION 02 September 1998 -- (The following Fact Sheet on U.S.-Russian Export Control Cooperation was issued by the White House on September 2, 1998 in Moscow)
• TRANSCRIPT: CLINTON, YELTSIN PRESS CONFERENCE USIA 02 September 1998 -- President Clinton and President Yeltsin concluded the US-Russia Summit September 2 by signing two security agreements and holding a joint press conference with both American and Russian reporters in the Kremlin.
• RUSSIA / U-S / ARMS Voice of America 02 September 1998 - PRESIDENTS CLINTON AND YELTSIN HAVE SIGNED TWO ARMS CONTROL AGREEMENTS, BUT THE DEALS REPRESENT FAR LESS THAN WHAT THE TWO COUNTRIES HAD HOPED FOR WHEN THE SUMMIT WAS PLANNED.
• MOSCOW SUMMIT: 'TRIVIAL' OR TIPPING SCALES TOWARD STABILITY? USIA Foreign Media Reaction Report 02 September 1998 - In worldwide media commentary from yesterday and today, a majority of analysts held out little or no hope that the Sept. 1-2 Clinton-Yeltsin summit in Moscow would be worth the effort, but a solid minority supported it.
• ALBRIGHT ON CNN'S "LATE EDITION" PROGRAM USIA 01 September 1998 --"A lot of business" was taking place at the US-Russia summit this week, despite the economic and political instability plaguing Russia, says Secretary of State Albright.
• TRANSCRIPT: NSC, DOD, STATE BRIEFING USIA 01 September 1998 -- (Clinton/Yeltsin on Russian political/economic reform and command and control of the military, US-Russian early warning agreement to be signed Sept. 2, program for management and disposition of weapons plutonium, Russian nuclear weapons under secure control, Nunn-Lugar cooperative threat reduction agreement)
• U-S / RUSSIA ARMS Voice of America 01 September 1998 - WHILE THEIR SUMMIT TALKS HAVE BEEN DOMINATED BY ECONOMIC ISSUES, PRESIDENTS CLINTON AND YELTSIN HAVE REACHED TWO AGREEMENTS AIMED AT REDUCING THE THREAT OF NUCLEAR CONFLICT.

  August

• CLINTON-YELTSIN SUMMIT: LITTLE HOPE FOR MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS USIA Foreign Media Reaction Report 31 August 1998 - Looking ahead to tomorrow's summit between Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin, foreign media analysts held out little hope for major accomplishments as they continued to express alarm about the possible global repercussions of further chaos in Russia.
• RUSSIA SUMMIT Voice of America 30 August 1998 - RUSSIA'S FINANCIAL CRISIS IS EXPECTED TO OVERSHADOW PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S TWO DAYS OF TALKS THIS WEEK WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON.
• RUSSIA COMMUNISTS Voice of America 30 August 1998 - RUSSIA'S COMMUNIST PARTY AND SEVERAL OTHER OPPOSITION PARTIES HAVE REJECTED A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTRY'S ACTING PRIME MINISTER AND PARLIAMENT LEADERS.
• CLINTON TO URGE RUSSIA TO "MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES" By Louise Fenner USIA 28 August 1998 -- National Security Adviser Sandy Berger said President Clinton, during his visit to Moscow September 1-2, will reassure the Russians that the West is "ready and prepared to be of help if they make the right choices" about their political and economic future.
• PRESS BRIEFING BY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR SANDY BERGER, DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR JIM STEINBERG, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF TREASURY LARRY SUMMERS, AMBASSADOR AT LARGE FOR THE NEWLY INDEPENDENT STATES STEVE SESTANOVICH August 28, 1998 " It was clear as we headed into the spring and early summer that the Duma was not going to act quickly on START II and that in fact, the fact the President's trip was in some way linked to that had become counterproductive in terms of action on START II. "
• CHERNOMYRDIN'S FAILURE LIKELY USIA Foreign Media Reaction Daily Digest -- August 27, 1998 -- Amid alarming reports of a further plunge in the ruble, foreign media analysts held out little hope Russia's newly designated Prime Minister Chernomyrdin could avert further chaos there.
• RUSSIA: A DEVALUATION OF THE PRESIDENT ALONG WITH THE CURRENCY USIA Foreign Media Reaction Daily Digest August 25, 1998 -- International media focused on the dismissal by Russian president Boris Yeltsin of his entire cabinet, including Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko. Opinion makers agreed that the latest reshuffling at the Kremlin was Mr. Yeltsin's "political declaration of bankruptcy."
• RUSSIA GOVERNMENT Voice of America 24 August 1998 - RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS DEFENDED HIS DECISION TO BRING BACK VICTOR CHERNOMYRDIN AS PRIME MINISTER.
• RUSSIA POLITICS Voice of America 24 August 1998 - RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS DISMISSED PRIME MINISTER SERGEI KIRIYENKO AND HIS ENTIRE CABINET, AND NAMED FORMER PRIME MINISTER VICTOR CHERNOMYRDIN ACTING HEAD OF GOVERNMENT.
• RUSSIA RUBLE Voice of America 17 August 1998 -- RUSSIA HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL ALLOW THE VALUE OF ITS CURRENCY, THE RUBLE, TO FALL BY AS MUCH AS 50 PERCENT AGAINST THE U-S DOLLAR.
• RUSSIA SPACE Voice of America 13 August 1998 -- THREE RUSSIANS HAVE BLASTED INTO ORBIT -- AMONG THEM, A FORMER TOP AIDE TO RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN.
• CLINTON / MOSCOW SUMMIT Voice of America 11 August 1998 -- WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS HAVE ANNOUNCED DETAILS OF NEXT MONTH'S U-S / RUSSIAN SUMMIT IN MOSCOW. CLINTON AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN WILL HOLD TALKS SEPTEMBER FIRST AND SECOND.
• DM MORDECHAI MEETS WITH RUSSIAN NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER Defense Ministry Media Adviser 10 August 1998 -- Defense Minister Mordechai unequivocally demanded that the Russian government immediately enforce supervision of Russian companies who are assisting at military projects in Iran.
• ISRAEL / RUSSIA / IRAN Voice of America 10 August 1998 -- ISRAEL IS TRYING TO PERSUADE THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT TO STOP RUSSIAN COMPANIES FROM SELLING MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN.
• ISRAEL TO RUSSIA: YOU'RE STILL LEAKING MISSILE TECHNOLOGY Israel Line 10 August 1998 -- Israeli intelligence told Russia's visiting national security advisor on Sunday that two of the seven Russian enterprises investigated by Moscow in July are still supplying Iran with missile technology.
• RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY ON ISRAELI PM's ASSERTIONS Embassy of Russia News Release #31 August 7, 1998 -- The principle of "catch-all controls" was introduced by the Government Decree of January 22, 1998 and is now being implemented. A draft Federal law on exports has been prepared and submitted to the state Duma for consideration.
• CONGRESS - SPACE STATION Voice of America 05 August 1998 - THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS TAKING MORE STEPS TO KEEP THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ON TRACK IN CASE RUSSIA'S SHARE OF THE PROJECT IS DELAYED FURTHER. OFFICIALS DELIVERED A STATUS REPORT TO A SKEPTICAL, OFTEN CRITICAL, AUDIENCE IN CONGRESS.
• NASA's Russian Payload BY JAMES OBERG The American Spectator August 1998 -- A partnership conceived for diplomatic--not scientific-- purposes is hindering space research while putting U.S. tax dollars into the pockets of corrupt Russians.

  July

• CLINTON / RUSSIA / MISSILES Voice of America 28 July 1998 -- PRESIDENT CLINTON IS IMPOSING ECONOMIC PENALTIES AGAINST SEVEN RUSSIAN ENTERPRISES ACCUSED OF SELLING SENSITIVE WEAPONS TECHONOLOGY TO IRAN, LYBIA AND NORTH KOREA. CLINTON SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER BARRING THE SEVEN RUSSIAN FIRMS FROM EXPORTING GOODS TO THE UNITED STATES OR RECEIVING ANY U-S ASSISTANCE. THE MOVE IS DESIGNED TO PREEMPT BROADER SANCTIONS BACKED BY CONGRESS.
• ISRAEL LISTS RUSSIAN COMPANIES AIDING IRAN ISRAEL LINE TUESDAY, JULY 28, 1998 -- Labor Knesset member Ephraim Sneh, Chairman of the Knesset Subcommittee on the Israel Defense Forces and Defense, presented a list of five Russian companies assisting Iran in developing the medium-range ballistic missile it tested last week.
• RUSSIA: FACING A BRACE OF SERIOUS PROBLEMS USIA Foreign Media Reaction Report - July 27, 1998 - Observers continued to express fear that the possible collapse of the erstwhile superpower--still a nuclear power, many emphasized--"would have horrible consequences for the entire world."
• TRANSCRIPT: ALBRIGHT, PRIMAKOV PRESS CONFERENCE IN MANILA 27 July 1998 -- Secretary of State Albright says proliferation will top the agenda of the upcoming Clinton-Yeltsin Summit in Moscow, "not only because of the threat it poses to our security, but because of the special responsibility as nuclear powers to minimize the dangers weapons of mass destruction pose for the entire world."
• RUSSIA / GORE Voice of America 24 July 1998 U-S VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE AND RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER SERGEI KIRIYENKO HAVE DRAWN UP PLANS FOR A FORTHCOMING U-S RUSSIAN SUMMIT.
• CONGRESS-IRAN SANCTIONS Voice of America 17 July 1998 -- HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LEADERS HAVE AGREED TO PUT OFF CONSIDERATION OF THE PRESIDENT'S VETO OF A BILL IMPOSING SANCTIONS ON FOREIGN ENTITIES THAT HELP IRAN'S MISSILE PROGRAM.
• Mordechai tells Russians: Stop aiding Iran missile program By ARIEH O'SULLIVAN The Jeruslaem Post - July 17, 1998 23 Tammuz 5758 - Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai demanded yesterday from the visiting Russian intelligence chief that Moscow must "immediately and unequivocally stop" Russian aid to Iran's surface-to-surface missile development projects. Mordechai told Kovalyov that Israel has yet to see any "fruits" from Russia's moves against the aid to Iran.
• RUSSIA ANNOUNCES INQUIRY INTO AID TO IRAN ISRAEL LINE 16 July 1998 -- Russia announced on Wednesday that it is conducting an investigation into nine scientific institutes and companies suspected of transferring ballistic missile technology to Iran.
• RUSSIAN SECURITY CHIEF HEADS DELEGATION TO ISRAEL ISRAEL LINE 15 July 1998 -- Nikolai Kovalev, the Director of Russia's security services, FSB, is heading a delegation of eight Russian intelligence officials. While Russia has tightened regulations governing the export of dual-use technology, informed senior Israeli security officials say implementation has been spotty at best.
• U-S / RUSSIA Voice of America 15 July 1998 -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS WELCOMING NEW STEPS ANNOUNCED BY MOSCOW TO CRACKDOWN ON RUSSIAN FIRMS THAT ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE EXPORTED MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing , JULY 15, 1998 -- RUSSIA Success of reform effort extremely important for future of Europe US works hard with international organizations to assist Russian economy Not realistic for US to deny assistance because of foreign policy disagreements US welcomes announcement of investigation of nine companies doing business with Iran US will suspend any US government program or assistance to entities on Russian list
• PRESS BRIEFING BY MIKE MCCURRY THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary, JULY 15, 1998 -- We believe that those steps indicate the seriousness to which the Russian Federation has taken the expression of concern we've made on certain technology transfers. They involve a lot of the premier Russian enterprises that have been involved in technology transfers and we might be in a position to suspend some of our own U.S. government programs and assistance to some of those same entities.
• STATEMENT BY VICE PRESIDENT GORE ON THE EXPORTATION OF RUSSIAN WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY , JULY 15, 1998 -- Today's decision by the Russian government to investigate nine entities suspected of violating export controls is an encouraging step forward in Russia's efforts to strengthen enforcement of its non-proliferation policies.
• STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY , JULY 15, 1998 -- The Russian government today announced that the Government Commission on export control is conducting special investigations on nine entities believed to have violated Russian export controls and attempted to export goods or services which could contribute to weapons of mass destruction or missiles to deliver them.
• FSB DIRECTOR: "ATTEMPTS OF SOME BUSINESSMEN AND OFFICIALS TO BYPASS EXISTING RESTRICTIONS ON "SENSITIVE" TECHOLOGIES ARE INADMISSIBLE" Embassy of Russia News Release - #27 July 15, 1998
• RUSSIA EXPOSES ATTEMPTS TO SMUGGLE DUAL TECHNOLOGIES OUT Embassy of Russia News Release #28 July 15, 1998 -- Russian Government export control Commission resolved to conduct a special investigation of violations of "dual-purpose" goods and services export regime.
• CHIEF OF THE RUSSIAN ARMED FORCES GENERAL STAFF: "RUSSIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENSE TOUGHENS CONTROL OVER EXPORT OF DEFENSE MATERIAL AND TECHNOLOGIES" Embassy of Russia News Release #29 July 15, 1998 - The Russian Ministry of Defense jointly with other state agencies takes measures to toughen control over export of defense materials and technologies in the interests of Russia's national security and taking intoaccount provisions of International law.
• ISRAEL / RUSSIA / IRAN Voice of America 15 July 1998 -- THE HEAD OF RUSSIA'S MAIN SECURITY SERVICE IS IN ISRAEL FOR TALKS EXPECTED TO INCLUDE RUSSIA'S SALES OF MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN.
• RUSSIAN ECONOMIC CRISIS: MIXED VIEWS ON IMF BAILOUT PACKAGE USIA Foreign Media Reaction Report July 15, 1998 -- The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) decision last Sunday to further assist Russia during its time of economic crisis was met with mixed reviews in the international press. The latest $17.1 billion bailout package--on top of a $5.5 billion loan already pledged by the IMF and the World Bank, for a total of $22.6 billion earmarked for Russia--was seen by a majority of analysts as a necessary measure to ease the "financial panic" now gripping the country.
• PRESS BRIEFING BY MIKE MCCURRY July 10, 1998 -- " ... is the President concerned that the longer there is a delay in these international loans, the greater the likelihood that Russia might earn its money through transfers of nuclear technology?"
• RUSSIAN ECONOMIC CRISIS: 'A BAD SITUATION' USIA Foreign Media Reaction Report July 9, 1998 -- Observers in Europe, Asia and Latin America viewed with increasing alarm the "bad" economic situation in Russia. Analysts expressed concern that the Yeltsin government's recently announced anti-financial crisis measures and its efforts over the last few days to secure an aid package with the IMF would not be enough to avert a "catastrophe."
• PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCES SUMMIT MEETING WITH RUSSIAN FEDERATION PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary July 6, 1998

  June

• Russian Missile Chief--Loss of Radar in Latvia To Be Offset , Interfax, 6/29/1998 -- The closure of a missile attack early warning system in Skrunda, Latvia, will be "a loss of important monitoring parameters" in the northeast but means are available to offset the loss.
• Oil and Gas Interests in the Russian Political Equation Dr Mark Smith Conflict Studies Research Centre, Sandhurst UK (O.B.59) June 1998 -- Russia is a major producer of oil and gas, and her gas and oil industries are therefore influential actors in both Russian internal politics and foreign policy. In January 1998, the oil companies YUKOS and Sibneft' merged to form YUKSI, making it one of the largest oil companies in the world.
• Strategic Command Chief Has Confidence in Russian Nuke Security By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service 30 June 1998 -- Air Force Gen. Eugene Habiger, commander in chief of US Strategic Command, said a tour of Russian nuclear facilities showed him the Russians have a very conservative policy regarding nuclear weapons. He also said reports of Russia "losing" suitcase size nuclear weapons are false.
• Topol-M Will Be Installed on Time , Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, 6/26/1998
• [EXCERPTS] U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing 24 June 1998 -- RUSSIA Alleged Remarks Made by McCurry on Vetoing of Sanctions re Iran Albright's Remarks before the Asia Society Technology to Iran and Sanctions No Linkage Between IMF Loan Reactor Deal in India
• DoD News Briefing Tuesday, June 23, 1998 - 1:30 p.m. -- According to reports, Mr. Berger has told the Russian authorities that there are still missile components going from Russia into Iran 18 months after Yeltsin said it was stopped.
• TRANSCRIPT: GEN. HABIGER PRESS BRIEFING ON TRIP TO RUSSIA 23 June 1998 -- General Eugene Habiger, commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, briefed reporters June 16 on his recent visit to five major nuclear facilities in Russia. Habiger said that throughout his visit, he was impressed with the "obvious concern at all levels with the safety and security of their nuclear weapons stockpile.
• CLINTON / RUSSIAN SANCTIONS Voice of America 17 June 1998 -- PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL VETO A BILL FROM CONGRESS THAT WOULD PUNISH RUSSIAN AND OTHER FOREIGN COMPANIES THAT SELL MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN.
• TRANSCRIPT: U.S. ASTRONAUTS RETURN FROM SHUTTLE-MIR PROGRAM 15 June 1998 -- The Space Shuttle Discovery returned to earth June 12, culminating 977 total days spent in orbit by the seven U.S. astronauts who stayed aboard Mir at various times since the Shuttle-Mir program began in March 1995. Of those, 907 days were spent as actual Mir crew members. The landing was the end of an 812-day continuous U.S. presence in space.
• HOUSE APPROVES IRAN MISSILE SANCTIONS AIMED AT RUSSIAN FIRMS 10 June 1998 By Ralph Dannheisser USIA -- The House of Representatives has followed the Senate's lead in giving overwhelming approval to a bill designed to force an end to Russian transfers of missile technology to Iran.
• CLINTON / IRAN SANCTIONS Voice of America 10 June 1998 -- PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL VETO A BILL FROM CONGRESS THAT WOULD IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON COUNTRIES EXPORTING MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN. THE PRINCIPAL TARGET OF THE LEGISLATION IS RUSSIA.
• PRESS BRIEFING BY MIKE MCCURRY June 10, 1998 THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary -- The Iran sanctions bill comes at a time when we have worked in a very cooperative and successful fashion with the Russian Federation to address many of our concerns with respect to technology transfers and proliferation, especially as they relate to Iran.
• CONGRESS - IRAN SANCTIONS -- 09 June 1998 -- Voice of America LEGISLATION AIMED AT BLOCKING TRANSFERS OF MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN HAS CLEARED ITS FINAL HURDLE IN THE U-S CONGRESS. THE FINAL VOTES IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE WERE ALMOST UNANIMOUS. CONGRESS MADE ONE IMPORTANT CONCESSION TO THE WHITE HOUSE -- AGREEING TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS ONLY ON TRANSFERS THAT OCCUR AFTER JANUARY 22, 1998, THE DATE RUSSIA ADOPTED NEW EXPORT CONTROLS.
• SHUTTLE / MIR Voice of America 08 June 1998 -- THE U-S SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY HAS DEPARTED FROM THE RUSSIAN SPACE STATION MIR AFTER FOUR DAYS JOINED BY AN AIR-TIGHT TUNNEL. THE FINAL DOCKING OF A SHUTTLE TO THE RUSSIAN OUTPOST IS OVER.
• Ecological Genocide: Russian Radar Causes Ecological Problems , Baku Zerkalo, 6/6/1998
• RUMINATIONS ON RUSSIA'S RUBLE RETREAT Voice of America 03 June 1998 -- THERE IS STILL CONSIDERABLE CONCERN IN THE U-S PRESS ABOUT THE UNDERPINNINGS OF THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY AND WHAT AN ECONOMIC COLLAPSE MIGHT LEAD TO IN THE POLITICAL ARENA.
• RUSSIA / CORRUPTION Voice of America 02 June 1998 -- A LEADING RUSSIAN PARLIAMENTARY-APPOINTED AUDITOR SAYS FOREIGN AID PROVIDED TO RUSSIA IS BEING STOLEN ON A MASSIVE SCALE.
• Russian missile officers shadow counterparts : Jun 2, 1998 (AFNS) -- For the first time ever, Russian Federation Missile and Space Force officers from the wing and squadron level as well as missile flight commanders and launch officers shadowed their American counterparts.
• RUSSIA / MIR Voice of America 02 June 1998 -- COSMONAUTS ABOARD RUSSIA'S MIR SPACE STATION HAVE REPAIRED THEIR MAIN COMPUTER AND ARE PREPARING FOR LINK-UP WITH THE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY.
• SHUTTLE - MIR Voice of America 01 June 1998 -- OFFICIALS AT THE U-S SPACE AGENCY NASA SAY THEY ARE CONFIDENT THAT TECHNICAL CONDITIONS ABOARD MIR ARE SUFFICIENTLY UNDER CONTROL TO PROCEED WITH THE COUNTDOWN FOR THE SHUTTLE LIFT OFF.
• SPACE STATION SCHEDULE Voice of America 01 June 1998 THE 16 COUNTRIES PARTICIPATING IN THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION HAVE AGREED TO DELAY CONSTRUCTION UNTIL NOVEMBER BECAUSE OF RUSSIAN FINANCIAL PROBLEMS.
• THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY: POST-ASIA AND POST-CHERNOMYRDIN USIA 01 June 1998 --

  May

• SHUTTLE-MIR OVERVIEW Voice of America 31 May 1998 -- THE MISSION COMPLETES THE FIRST PHASE OF U-S-RUSSIAN SPACE COOPERATION LEADING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION LATER THIS YEAR.
• RUSSIA CRISIS Voice of America 28 May 1998 -- TWO AMERICAN EXPERTS ON RUSSIA THURSDAY VOICED STRONG CRITICISM OF U-S POLICY TOWARDS RUSSIA. SUSAN EISENHOWER, THE GRAND DAUGHTER OF DWIGHT EISENHOWER, AND CHARLES MAYNES BELIEVE THE UNITED STATES SHOULD DO MORE TO BOLSTER REFORM IN RUSSIA.
• SESTANOVICH, BIDEN DISCUSS POSSIBLE RUSSIAN SANCTIONS - May 20, 1998 - By Rick Marshall USIA -- The Senate is poised to vote on legislation that would mandate sanctions on Russian individuals, businesses, and government entities that have transferred technology which contributes to Iran's ballistic missile efforts.
• New US law on sanctions angers Russia - [May 28,1998] - The Hindustan Times
• RUSSIA / NORWAY Voice of America 26 May 1998 -- RUSSIA HAS OFFERED TO DISMANTLE ITS OLD NUCLEAR SUBMARINES BASED IN THE FAR NORTH. BUT PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN IS ASKING NORWAY FOR FINANCIAL HELP TO COMPLETE THE TASK.
• U-S SENATE / RUSSIA SANCTIONS Voice of America - 21 May 1998 - SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA OVER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS TO IRAN ARE PROBABLY INEVITABLE UNLESS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION INTERCEDES TO DELAY A VOTE THAT IS EXPECTED WITHIN DAYS.
• RUSSIA / IMPEACHMENT Voice of America - 21 May 1998 - RUSSIA'S OPPOSITION COMMUNIST PARTY HAS STARTED IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN.
• CONGRESS-ISRAEL-IRAN 19 May 1998 Voice of America LEGISLATION TO PLACE SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA FOR ITS DEALINGS WITH IRAN MAY COME UP FOR A VOTE THIS WEEK IN THE U-S SENATE. SPEAKER GINGRICH LEFT NO DOUBT HE SUPPORTS THE MEASURE.
• Ground Troops Missile Protection: Forty Years of Efforts Permitted Creating the S-300V, the World"s Only General-Purpose Air and ABM Defense Complex, Aleksandr Shirokorad , Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, 5/15/1998 -- Overview of Russian Army ABM efforts.
• [EXCERPTS] U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing 15 May 1998 -- RUSSIA Actions Taken to Strengthen Export Control Regime Reaction to Pres Yeltsin's Speech re Controls on Technology Transfers
• RUSSIA NUCLEAR Voice of America - 14 May 1998 -- RUSSIA IS TIGHTENING CONTROLS ON THE SALE OF MISSILE AND NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY.
• Russians Say Yeltsin's Nuclear Pledge Fulfilled - 08 May 1998 - By Linda D. Kozaryn American Forces Press Service -- About this time last year, Russian President Boris Yeltsin announced his intention to stop aiming missiles at members of the NATO alliance. Russian officials now say Yeltsin's pledge has been fulfilled.
• SENIOR RUSSIAN OFFICIALS ON RUSSIAN NONPROLIFERATION AND EXPORT CONTROL POLICIES Embassy of Russia News Release - #17 May 8, 1998 -- Deputy Head of Administration of the President of Russia - Press - Secretary of the President of Russia S. Yastrzhembsky made the following statement.
• THE NUCLEAR DANGER May 7, 1998 Voice of America WITH THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION, MOSCOW NOW HAS LESS CONTROL OVER ITS OWN NUCLEAR ARSENAL AND MATERIALS AS WELL AS THOSE IN FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS.
• SPACE STATION / CONGRESS 06 May 1998 - Voice of America -- THE HEAD OF THE U-S SPACE AGENCY NASA SAYS HE IS ANGRY AT RUSSIA'S FAILURE TO MEET ITS FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS TO THE U-S LED INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION PROGRAM.
• RUSSIA / ARMS 05 May 1998 - Voice of America -- RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS ORDERED THE GOVERNMENT TO TIGHTEN CONTROLS ON MILITARY EXPORTS AND SO CALLED "DUAL USE" TECHNOLOGY.

  April

• [EXCERPTS] STATE DEPARTMENT NOON BRIEFING 28 April 1998 - IRAN / RUSSIA / AZERBAIJAN Azeri interception of steel alloy shipment; US contact with Russia; Russia arrests suspects, begins investigation; material usable for liquid-propellant missiles. Russia ability to control sensitive materials, meet arms control requirements. Russian role in Iran missile program.
• Acting Defense Minister Visits Missile Defense Unit , Mikhail Shevtsov , ITAR-TASS, 4/22/1998
• Organized Crime + Local Elite Groups = Nuclear Blackmail... Yaderny Kontrol Digest No.7. Spring 1998.
• Gen. Vladimir Yakovlev on the Role of the SNF Yaderny Kontrol Digest No.7. Spring 1998.
• Russian agencies denied U.S. aid USA Today 04/16/98- Updated 07:47 AM ET Among the projects denied U.S. funding since March: A proposed project at Baltic State Technical University in St. Petersburg to apply rocket motor technology in the high-temperature destruction of chemical wastes. A project involving TsAGI, Russia's Central Aerodynamic Institute, on using aerospace technology to develop high-tech plastic joints for industry. A project led by the Moscow Aviation Institute to develop new methods for evaluating the thermal properties of composite materials.
• U-S / RUSSIA / MISSILES Voice of America 4/16/98 - THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT IS WATCHING A NUMBER OF RUSSIAN FIRMS CLOSELY BECAUSE OF CONCERNS THEY MAY BE SECRETLY PROVIDING MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1998 - USA Today has a story that the United States has declared 20 companies ineligible for assistance, companies believed to be involved with Russia proliferation to Iran. Many of the companies and entities in that very interesting story prepared by one of our nation's newspapers are accurate; that they are receiving extra scrutiny because of this concern.
• Statement by the Federal Security Service of Russia Embassy of Russia News Release #16 April 8, 1998 -- The Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB), acting within the area of its responsibility, is conducting activities designed to prevent illicit export of dual-use materials.
• The Case Russia Forgot William C. Potter The New York Times Friday. April 03, 1998, p.A23. There is growing bipartisan support in Congress to compel Russia to halt missile exports to Iran. The problem, however, is not the lack of Russian regulations, of which there are dozens, but the failure to enforce them.
• TRANSCRIPT: ENERGY SEC. PENA ROUNDTABLE WITH PRESS IN MOSCOW 02 April 1998 -- Secretary of Energy Federico Pena says the Russian officials he met with expressed a commitment to continuing the "very positive and constructive relationship" between the two governments and to continuing the progress made under the Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission.
• U.S., RUSSIA TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES IN FORMER CLOSED CITIES 01 April 1998 (Pledge to support civilian ventures in once-closed cities)

  March

• Russia 1998 Dr M A Smith Conflict Studies Research Centre, Sandhurst UK March 1998 -- The current system has been described as a proto-democracy. It is dominated by the "party of power", ie the ruling post-communist establishment. The presidency has enormous power in this system. Whilst presidential elections take place, it is by no means clear that the party of power would ever be prepared to accept the verdict of the electorate if this verdict was unfavourable to it.
• UNITED STATES PARTNERS WITH RUSSIA TO CREATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN "CLOSED" CITIES March 31, 1998
• U.S. Military Helps Russia Drawdown Nukes By Linda D. Kozaryn American Forces Press Service –- A handful of American service members are helping the Russians safeguard nuclear warheads as they are dismantled, transported and stored.
• [EXCERPTS] STATE DEPARTMENT NOON BRIEFING, MARCH 26, 1998 CYPRUS -- S-300 Missiles; ARMENIA-- Reported Russian Sale of S-300 Missiles to Armenia
• TRANSCRIPT: ALBRIGHT, PRIMAKOV PRESS CONFERENCE 24 March 1998 ("Russia's foreign policy will remain unchanged" says ForMin)
• RUSSIA GOVERNMENT Voice of America 3/23/98 -- IN A SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT, MR. YELTSIN FIRED THE CABINET, FROM PRIME MINISTER VICTOR CHERNOMYRDIN ON DOWN. HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT LACKED DYNAMISM AND INITIATIVE.
• RUSSIA/US REACT Voice of America 3/23/98 -- RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS DISMISSED THE GOVERNMENT. BUT MR YELTSIN SAYS FREE MARKET REFORMS WILL GO ON. THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT EXPECTS FEW CHANGES IN RUSSIAN POLICIES.
• CONGRESS-YELTSIN Voice of America 3/23/98 -- NEWS OF THE GOVERNMENT SHAKE-UP IN MOSCOW TOOK MEMBERS OF THE U-S CONGRESS BY SURPRISE.
• RUSSIA / ASTRONAUT 3/19/98 Voice of America MR. WOLF SAYS HE SUPPORTS THE U-S DECISION NOT TO SEND A REPLACEMENT WHEN ASTRONAUT ANDREW THOMAS LEAVES MIR IN A COUPLE MONTHS.
• GCC10 TEXT: PRESIDENT'S LETTER TO GORE-CHERNOMYRDIN COMMISSION 13 March 1998 -
• Russia not to buckle under US pressure - [March 12,1998] - The Hindustan Times
• TRANSCRIPT: GORE, CHERNOMYRDIN AT PRESS BRIEFINGX MARCH 11, 1998 -- Vice President Al Gore and Russian Chairman of the Government and Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin spoke with enthusiasm about the results of the tenth session of the U.S.-Russian Commission on Economic and Technological Cooperation (the Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission).
• 11 March 1998 GCC10 TEXT: FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT FOR U.S. EXPORTS TO RUSSIA
• 11 March 1998 GCC10 TEXT: PRESS STATEMENT ON GORE-CHERNOMYRDIN COMMISSION
• 11 March 1998 GORE AND CHERNOMYRDIN WRAP UP TENTH GCC MEETING
• 11 March 1998 GCC10 TEXT: LIST OF AGREEMENTS REACHED, STATEMENTS ISSUED
• 11 March 1998 GCC10 TEXT: JOINT REPORT OF 10TH GCC MEETING
• GCC10 TEXT: JOINT STATEMENT ON SPACE FLIGHT, SCIENCE COOPERATION 11 March 1998 "The Vice President of the United States of America and the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation note with great satisfaction the progress made to date in the United States' and Russia's joint effort to expand cooperation in human space flight."
• GCC10 TEXT: JOINT STATEMENT ON AERONAUTICS AND SPACE COOPERATION 11 March 1998
• US may prevent Russia from helping Iran develop missile - [March 10,1998] - The Hindustan Times
• GORE / CHERNOMYRDIN VOA3/10/98 - VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE AND RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN HAVE CONVENED A TWO-DAY MEETING IN WASHINGTON
• TRANSCRIPT: STATE DEPARTMENT NOON BRIEFING, MARCH 10 RUSSIA Investigation into the use of U.S.-made high-performance computers in Russia Discussion during the ongoing meeting of the Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission of ratification of the START II treaty.
• RUSSIA: AHEAD ON IRAQ; WOOING IRAN, OTHER NEIGHBORS - USIA Foreign Media Reaction Report - March 9, 1998
• NO MISSILE OR NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGIES TRANSFERRED TO IRAN, RUSSIAN PREMIER SAYS Embassy of Russia News Release #11 March 9, 1998 -- Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin declared on Monday that Moscow had not transferred missile or nuclear technologies either to Iran or to any other country in violation of the existing international regimes.
• TRANSCRIPT: BRIEFING ON GORE-CHERNOMYRDIN COMMISSION MEETING USIA 06 March 1998 (Briefing by senior administration official)
• A Blow to the Head: How a Principal Institute, the Creator of Russia's World-Famous Antiballistic Missile System, Collapsed, Anna Politkovskaya, Obshchaya Gazeta, 3/5/1998
• RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL SPOKESMAN Embassy of Russia News Release #10 March 5, 1998 -- Excerpts from the transcription of the Russian Foreign Ministry press briefing on March 5, 1998: "Russian-Iranian cooperation pursues only peaceful, civilian goals."
• RUSSIA / NUCLEAR VOA 3/4/98 RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS NAMED A NEW MINISTER FOR ATOMIC ENERGY.

  February

• THE RUSSIAN-IRANIAN NEGOTIATIONS Embassy of Russia News Release #9 February 27, 1998 -- Russian Foreign Minister Ye.M. Primakov held negotiations on February 25, 1998, with Iranian Foreign Minister K. Kharrazi who was on an official visit to Russia.
• TEXT: U.S., RUSSIA UPGRADE SECURITY AT RUSSIAN NUCLEAR FACILITIES 25 February 1998 (DOE announces that four more security upgrades are completed)
• RUSSIA TOUGHENS EXPORT CONTROLS Embassy of Russia News Release #8 February 24, 1998 -- The following is the text of Decree No.57 of the Government of the Russian Federation, signed on January 22, 1998.
• U-S / RUSSIA / NUCLEAR SAFETY VOA 2/14/98 THE UNITED STATES IS CURRENTLY TRAINING MEMBERS OF THE 12TH MAIN DIRECTORATE OF THE RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY (GUMO).
• Latvia Will Not Extend Accord on Russian Radar Station , Interfax,
• Russia Building Radar Station in Belarus , ITAR-TASS, 2/12/1998 -- The anti-missile early warning radar station is being built to replace the Russian radar station in Skrunde, Latvia.
• Russian Foreign Ministry press briefing Embassy of Russia News Release #6 February 12, 1998 -- Russia had never made any deals with Iraq in violation of the existing regime of sanctions and has never delivered to that country, equipment or materials that can be used for prohibited purposes, be it in the biological or any other spheres.
• At First Hand": "Topol-M Is the Optimum Weapon for Russia: That Is the Belief of Deputy General Designer of Moscow Institute of Heat Engineering Lev Solomonov, Sergey Sokut , Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, 2/6/1998 -- Interview with Deputy General Designer of Moscow Institute of Heat Engineering Lev Semenovich Solomonov
• Topol-M Missile Regiment To Become Operational in 98 , Mikhail Shevtsov , ITAR-TASS, 2/6/1998

  January

• The Russian Strategic Missile Forces enter the new year with a new structure, Yury Strigelskiy , Belapan, 1/21/1998 -- Discusses a restructring of Russia's strategic missile forces.
• USE OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES FOR CBW DELIVERY Yaderny Kontrol Digest No.6. Winter 1997-1998.
• INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS ON WEAPON-GRADE PLUTONIUM UTILIZATION Yaderny Kontrol Digest No.6. Winter 1997-1998. Yevgeni Kudryavtsev.
• ALEXANDER NIKITIN SPEAKS TO YADERNY KONTROL ON "THE NIKITIN SYNDROME" Yaderny Kontrol Digest No.6. Winter 1997-1998.
• NEW MINATOM BOSS ADAMOV STARTS WITH "THE KALININ NPP ACCIDENT" SIMULATION... Yaderny Kontrol Digest. Number 6. Winter 1997-1998.
• TEXT: AMBASSADOR SESTANOVICH SPEECH ON U.S.-RUSSIAN RELATIONS US Information Agency 15 January 1998 (Speaks to Heritage Foundation January 15)
• RUSSIA/MIR VOA 09 January 1998 - TWO RUSSIAN COSMONAUTS HAVE COMPLETED A THREE-HOUR SPACEWALK OUTSIDE THE SPACE STATION MIR.
• RUSSIA'S ERODING MILITARY - 1 VOA 07 January 1998 - RUSSIA HAS A DISPIRITED, DEMORALIZED AND SHRINKING MILITARY NOT CAPABLE OF FIGHTING A MAJOR WAR.
• RUSSIA'S ERODING MILITARY - 2 VOA 07 January 1998 - ONE OF RUSSIA'S MOST URGENT PROBLEMS IS HOW TO REVIVE ITS FRACTURED, CONFUSED AND IMPOVERISHED MILITARY.

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