DATE=9/18/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / U-S (S-L)
NUMBER=2-254049
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  Two Russian Air Force bombers approached 
the Alaska coastline this week but were turned 
back by U-S fighter jets. V-O-A Moscow 
correspondent Eve Conant has a report.

TEXT:  Russian Air Force officials express, in 
their words,  "surprise and regret" that two 
Russian jets were intercepted by U-S jets near 
the coast of Alaska. 

Russian officials say the jets, called "Bear 
Bombers," were on a routine training flight for 
long-distance travel and that the aircraft was 
flying in neutral airspace.

The Russian bombers turned around after two U-S 
jets confronted them on Thursday. The Russian 
Air Force press office issued a statement 
saying that Russia does not take what it called 
"hurried steps" when NATO intelligence aircraft 
flies along the Russian border.

Thursday's incident is the closest Russian jets 
have come to the Alaskan coastline in six 
years.  The Soviet Union regularly tested U-S 
defenses by flying toward American airspace and 
then turning around at the last minute.

///REST OPT FOR LONG///

U-S officials say they do not know why the 
bombers approached U-S airspace.  Russian 
officials say the jets were following a normal 
route that Russian aircraft had been flying for 
over a week. 

Thursday's incident comes a few days after U-S 
Defense Secretary William Cohen visited Russia 
to improve bilateral military ties between the 
two countries.  Russia froze relations with 
NATO following the alliance's air campaign 
against Yugoslavia earlier this year.  (Signed)

NEB/EC/ALW/KL



18-Sep-1999 11:06 AM EDT (18-Sep-1999 1506 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.