DATE=7/14/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251752
TITLE=RUSSIA / KAZAKHSTAN (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ANDRE DE NESNERA
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  RUSSIA AND KAZAKHSTAN HAVE RESOLVED THEIR DIFFERENCES 
OVER PAYMENT FOR THE BAIKONUR COSMODROME -- AND AS CORRESPONDENT 
ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, THE ACCORD PAVES THE WAY 
FOR THE LAUNCH OF A MUCH-NEEDED CARGO SHIP FOR THE RUSSIAN SPACE 
STATION "MIR."

TEXT:  FOR MORE THAN A WEEK, ALL LAUNCHES FROM KAZAKHSTAN'S 
BAIKONUR COSMODROME HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED.  KAZAKH OFFICIALS TOOK 
THE ACTION FOLLOWING THE EXPLOSION IN MID-AIR OF A RUSSIAN 
"PROTON" ROCKET SHORTLY AFTER TAKE-OFF FROM BAIKONUR JULY FIFTH. 
THE ROCKET AND THE SATELLITE IT WAS CARRYING CRASHED TO THE 
GROUND -- BUT NO-ONE WAS HURT.

SOME KAZAKH OFFICIALS SAID THE BAN WAS IMPOSED BECAUSE OF 
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS SURROUNDING THE ROCKET'S HIGHLY-TOXIC 
FUEL.  BUT IT ALSO GAVE KAZAKHSTAN THE OPPORTUNITY TO FORCE THE 
ISSUE ON A SENSITIVE SUBJECT -- RUSSIA'S NON-PAYMENT OF ITS BILL 
FOR THE LEASE OF BAIKONUR.

FOLLOWING THE BREAK-UP OF THE SOVIET UNION, KAZAKHSTAN HAS BEEN 
LEASING BAIKONUR TO RUSSIA FOR THE ANNUAL SUM OF 115-MILLION 
DOLLARS.  MOSCOW'S ARREARS ARE ESTIMATED AT MORE THAN 300-MILLION
DOLLARS.

AFTER TALKS IN KAZAKHSTAN'S CAPITAL, ASTANA, RUSSIAN AND KAZAKH 
OFFICIALS AGREED ON A DEAL ALLOWING RUSSIA TO REPAY PART OF ITS 
DEBT.  THE ACCORD CALLS FOR RUSSIA TO PROVIDE KAZAKHSTAN WITH 
50-MILLION DOLLARS IN CASH BY NOVEMBER -- AND 65-MILLION DOLLARS 
WORTH OF GOODS NEXT YEAR.  RUSSIA ALSO AGREED TO TAKE CARE OF THE
MEDICAL AND CLEAN-UP COSTS OF LAST WEEK'S CRASH.

FOR THEIR PART, KAZAKH OFFICIALS HAVE LIFTED THE BAN ON THE 
LAUNCH OF A CARGO ROCKET SHIP CARRYING MUCH-NEEDED SUPPLIES AND 
EQUIPMENT TO THE RUSSIAN "MIR" SPACE STATION. 

FORMER RUSSIAN COSMONAUT, YURI BATURIN, TOLD A MOSCOW RADIO 
STATION ("ECHO MOSCOW") THE CARGO WILL CONTAIN A VERY IMPORTANT 
NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM NEEDED WHEN THE THREE-MAN CREW LEAVES "MIR" 
AUGUST 23RD.

             // BATURIN ACT IN RUSSIAN, THEN FADE //

MR. BATURIN SAID THAT NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM WILL ALLOW THE SPACE 
STATION TO BE CONTROLLED FROM EARTH WITHOUT THE NEED OF A PILOT 
ON BOARD.  THE FORMER COSMONAUT SAID IT WILL TAKE ABOUT A MONTH 
TO INSTALL AND CHECK THE SYSTEM.  WITHOUT SUCH A PILOTLESS 
MECHANISM, MR. BATURIN SAID THE SPACE STATION COULD COME CRASHING
ANYWHERE ON EARTH.

RUSSIAN OFFICIALS SAY THE LAUNCH OF THE CARGO SHIP WILL TAKE 
PLACE AT THE EARLIEST ON FRIDAY.   (SIGNED)

NEB/ADEN/GE/RAE

14-Jul-99 9:34 AM EDT (1334 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.