15 July 1998
Source: http://www.usia.gov/current/news/latest/98071506.wlt.html?/products/washfile/newsitem.shtml


USIS Washington File
_________________________________

15 July 1998

TEXT: WHITE HOUSE ON RUSSIAN WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY INVESTIGATIONS

(Russia committed to control flow of sensitive technology) (330)

Washington -- The White House commended Russia's decision to
investigate 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.

"These steps support the Russian commitment to stop the flow of
sensitive technologies and demonstrate the growing effectiveness of
U.S.-Russian cooperation in halting the proliferation and transfer of
dangerous weapons technology and materials," said a July 15 White
House statement.

Following is the text of the statement:

(Begin text)

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
July 15, 1998

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

The Russian government today announced that the Government Commission
on export control, chaired by Minister of the Economy Yakov Urinson,
is conducting special investigations on nine entities, including the
INOR scientific center, the Grafit and Polyus research institutes, the
Tikhomirov institute, Glavkosmos, the Komintern plant in Novosibirsk,
the MOSO company, Baltic State Technical University and Europalace
2000. These enterprises are 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.
The investigations may result in administrative actions and criminal
prosecutions.

Consistent with the Russian actions and where consistent with our own
assessment, the United States will suspend immediately any U.S.
government program or assistance to entities on this list and will
proceed expeditiously to impose trade restrictions on such entities.

These steps support the Russian commitment to stop the flow of
sensitive technologies and demonstrate the growing effectiveness of
U.S.-Russian cooperation in halting the proliferation and transfer of
dangerous weapons technology and materials. The U.S. and Russia will
continue to work together to strengthen controls on such exports and
to enforce compliance with the laws, policies and international
agreements on such transfers.

(End text)