ACCESSION NUMBER:300661
FILE ID:EUR307
DATE:08/25/93
TITLE:U.S. AND RUSSIA TO SIGN AGREEMENTS ON SPACE AND ENERGY (08/25/93)
TEXT:*93082507.EUR
*EUR307   08/25/93 *

U.S. AND RUSSIA TO SIGN AGREEMENTS ON SPACE AND ENERGY
1During upcoming visit of Russian PM)  (550)
By David Pitts
USIA Staff Writer
Washington -- The United States and Russia will sign a memorandum "on the
export of missile technology and equipment," when Russian Prime Minister
Victor Chernomyrdin visits this country next month, Valentin Sergeev, chief
of the Russian government's press section, said August 25.

Speaking at a news conference at the Russian embassy, Sergeev seemed to
indicate Russia has satisfied U.S. concerns about missile technology sales
to India and arms sales to countries viewed as unfriendly to the West.
"The question has been resolved optimally as far as I'm concerned," he
remarked.

"We haven't spoiled our relationship with India," Sergeev noted.  "But at
the same time, we have been able to satisfy the justified demands of the
U.S."  Pressed to give a firm assurance that both the missile technology
transfers to India and the arms sales to countries deemed unfriendly have
ceased, Sergeev declined.  "I'm not in a position to know everything," he
remarked.  "Further details will be provided on the visit," he added.

In addition to the memorandum on missile technology and equipment, Sergeev
indicated an agreement on international commerce -- specifically,
commercial services for space launchers will also be signed.  He said other
documents would be signed also, but he was not in a position to name them
at this point.

However, other issues to be discussed include space research, space
observation of the environment, cooperation between the two countries on
energy, including nuclear power plant safety, and environmental
cooperation, he explained.  There might also be an agreement on sales of
Russian uranium to the United States, he noted.

Asked if the question of Russian troop withdrawals from the Baltic countries
would come up, Sergeev said the issue will be discussed.  But he said the
Russian government would not like the issue "to distract attention" from
the focus of the meeting -- the signing of the documents on energy and
space cooperation.

Chernomyrdin is scheduled to visit the United States from August 29 through
September 2.  The major purpose of the visit -- a session of the
Intergovernment Russian-American Commission on cooperation in the field of
energy and space was set up during the summit in Vancouver.

In addition to meeting with President Clinton and Vice President Gore and
possibly other top U.S. officials, Sergeev said Chernomyrdin will also meet
with representatives of the U.S. energy, oil, and aerospace industries.  He
is scheduled to arrive in Washington from Texas and Florida on August 31.

Sergeev indicated he expects a news conference to be hosted by Chernomyrdin
and Gore on September 2, either before or after the document signing
ceremony.  He also said that the prime minister will leave the United
States some time that night -- earlier than originally scheduled -- because
of a meeting planned between President Yeltsin and Ukrainian President
Kravchuk in Crimea on September 3.  "Some meetings in the U.S. will
probably have to be postponed," he explained.  But Sergeev gave no
indication that Yeltsin and Kravchuk are close to any agreement on the
nuclear and other outstanding issues between the two countries that they
are meeting to discuss.

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