DATE=8/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236821
TITLE=ISRAEL / RUSSIA / IRAN (L ONLY)
BYLINE=MARK LAVIE
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  RUSSIA'S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER MEETS MONDAY WITH 
ISRAEL'S DEFENSE MINISTER.  MARK LAVIE IN JERUSALEM REPORTS 
ISRAEL IS TRYING TO PERSUADE THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT TO STOP 
RUSSIAN COMPANIES FROM SELLING MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN.  

TEXT:  ISRAEL HAS BEEN STEPPING UP ITS PRESSURE ON RUSSIA SINCE 
LAST MONTH, WHEN IRAN TEST-FIRED A LONG-RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILE, 
CALLED THE SHIBAB-3.  WHEN OPERATIONAL, THE MISSILE WILL HAVE 
ENOUGH RANGE TO TARGET ISRAEL AND OTHER NATIONS IN THE REGION, 
INCLUDING SAUDI ARABIA, WHERE U-S TROOPS ARE STATIONED.

RUSSIAN NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER GENERAL ANDREI KOKOSHIN GOT A 
LIST OF SPECIFIC COMPLAINTS FROM ISRAELI LEADERS AND INTELLIGENCE
OFFICERS.  REPORTS THAT FOLLOWED THE IRANIAN MISSILE TEST 
ATTRIBUTED THE TECHNOLOGY TO NORTH KOREA.  BUT ISRAEL BELIEVES 
RUSSIAN KNOW-HOW IS THE MAIN DRIVER IN THE IRANIAN LONG-RANGE 
MISSILE PROGRAM.

ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE GAVE GENERAL KOKOSHIN SPECIFIC INFORMATION 
ABOUT RUSSIAN COMPANIES ALLEGEDLY STILL SELLING MISSILE 
TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN, DESPITE OFFICIAL DENIALS.  BUT ISRAELI 
SOURCES SAY SOME INFORMATION WAS HELD BACK, TO PROTECT ISRAEL'S 
SOURCES INSIDE RUSSIA.

THE ISRAELI CABINET MINISTER APPOINTED TO HANDLE THE EFFORT TO 
STOP IRAN'S MISSILE PROGRAM IS NATAN SHARANSKY, A RUSSIAN HUMAN 
RIGHTS ACTIVIST BEFORE HE WAS ALLOWED TO EMIGRATE TO ISRAEL IN 
1985.   AN ISRAELI NEWSPAPER QUOTED MR. SHARANSKY AS CALLING THE 
IRANIAN SHIHAB-3 MISSILE "JUNK," SAYING IT HAS LITTLE TECHNOLOGY 
AND WAS TEST-FIRED FOR POLITICAL REASONS, TO SHOW THAT IRAN CAN 
BE A REGIONAL POWER.

MR. SHARANSKY ALSO WARNED OF THE POTENTIAL OF REGIONAL 
INSTABILITY RESULTING FROM IRAN'S MISSILE AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS 
PROGRAM.  AND HE MR. URGED GENERAL KOKOSHIN TO TAKE ACTION 
AGAINST RUSSIAN COMPANIES.  HE EMPHASIZED THAT DESPITE THE 
IRANIAN MISSILE TEST, IT IS  NOT  TOO LATE TO STOP THE PROJECT.  

ISRAELI OFFICIALS  WARNED THAT IF THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT DOES  
NOT  TAKE ACTION, ISRAEL WILL RENEW ITS EFFORTS IN THE US 
CONGRESS TO IMPOSE TRADE SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA.

GENERAL KOKOSHIN, A CLOSE ADVISER TO RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS 
YELTSIN, REPLIED THAT FIRMS FROM OTHER NATIONS ARE ALSO SELLING 
TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN.  HE LISTED FRANCE, GERMANY, CHINA, AND THE 
UNITED STATES.  UNLIKE OTHER RUSSIAN OFFICIALS, HE DID  NOT  DENY
THAT THE TRANSFER OF RUSSIAN TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN CONTINUES.  
(SIGNED)

NEB/ML/JWH

10-Aug-98 9:37 AM EDT (1337 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.