PUTIN PUSHES EXPORT CONTROLS TO PREVENT PROLIFERATION.
President Putin told the Russian Security Council on 22
February that improving the country's export control system
is "the most important issue of ensuring the country's
security," ITAR-TASS reported. He added that it is especially
important to deal with dual use items. Meanwhile,
"Rossiiskaya gazeta" carried an interview with Iran's
ambassador to Moscow, Mehdi Safari, who said Tehran will
ignore U.S. restrictions and purchase approximately $7
billion in arms from Russia in the next few years. PG
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