DATE=2/24/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245913
TITLE=RUSSIA / NUCLEAR (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A CONGRESSIONAL STUDY HAS FOUND THAT A UNITED STATES 
EFFORT TO HELP RUSSIA ADAPT WEAPONS TECHNOLOGIES TO NON-MILITARY 
USES MAY ACTUALLY BE SUPPORTING SCIENTISTS WORKING ON WEAPONS OF 
MASS DESTRUCTION.  AS V-O-A'S EVE CONANT REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, U-S
ENERGY DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS OVERSEEING THE PROGRAMS PROMISE TO 
TIGHTEN CONTROLS. 

TEXT:  A REPORT ISSUED MONDAY BY THE UNITED STATES GENERAL 
ACCOUNTING OFFICE -- OR G-A-O -- FINDS SEVERAL FAULTS WITH THE 
U-S DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S EFFORTS TO RESTRUCTURE NUCLEAR, 
BIOLOGICAL, AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS PROGRAMS FROM THE TIME OF THE 
FORMER SOVIET UNION. THE EFFORT HOPES TO FIND NEW JOBS FOR UP TO 
50-THOUSAND OF RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR WORKERS AND SCIENTISTS. BUT THE 
G-A-O FINDINGS REPORT THAT MUCH OF THE FUNDS ARE BEING WASTED, 
AND SOME IS SPENT TO ASSIST SCIENTISTS CURRENTLY WORKING ON 
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

THE G-A-O REPORT STATES THAT OF THE 63-AND-A-HALF MILLION (63.5 
MILLION) DOLLARS SPENT ON THE EFFORT SO FAR, ONLY A LITTLE UNDER 
24 MILLION (EDS: 23.7 MILLION) HAS GONE TO RUSSIAN SCIENTIFIC 
INSTITUTES.  THE REPORT STATES UP TO 63 PERCENT OF MONEY REMAINED
IN THE THE UNITED STATES TO FUND WHAT IT TERMED "OVERSIGHT" OF 
THE EFFORT. 

AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN MOSCOW WEDNESDAY, ROSE GOTTEMOELLER, 
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE FOR NON PROLIFERATION AND NATIONAL 
SECURITY AT THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, SAID HER DEPARTMENT 
WILL WORK HARDER TO MONITOR FUNDS.  BUT SHE SAYS SHE DOES  NOT  
BELIEVE THE U-S GOVERNMENT MONEY IS GOING TO RUSSIAN SCIENTISTS 
DEVELOPING NEW MILITARY WEAPONS.

                    /// GOTTEMOELLER ACT ///

         WE ARE TAKING THIS SO SERIOUSLY THAT WE'RE LOOKING AGAIN
         AT OUR PROCEDURES TO TRY TO MAKE THEM BETTER. BUT THAT 
         DOES NOT IMPLY WE THINK THE PROBLEM OF THE CREATION OF 
         WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION BY SCIENTISTS WHO ARE ALSO 
         WORKING IN THESE PROGRAMS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM.

                         /// END ACT ///

MS. GOTTEMOELLER ALSO DENIES CRITICISM THAT THE "NUCLEAR CITIES 
INITIATIVE" PROGRAM, AS THE EFFORT IS CALLED, WAS SIMPLY A 
WELFARE PROGRAM FOR RUSSIAN SCIENTISTS.

                 /// SECOND GOTTEMOELLER ACT ///

         WE ARE PROVIDING THE CONTACTS. WE ARE PROVIDING SOME 
         FUNDING. AND I CAN ALREADY SEE DOORS BEING PUSHED OPEN. 
         SO IT IS NOT A WELFARE PROGRAM FOR SCIENTISTS. THE 
         SCIENTISTS WILL PROVIDE THEIR OWN WELFARE.

                         /// END ACT ///

MS. GOTTEMOELLER SAID THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY WILL PROPOSE 
TO DOUBLE ITS BUDGET FOR NON-PROLIFERATION PROGRAMS IN THE YEAR 
2000.   (SIGNED) 

NEB/EC/PCF 

24-Feb-99 1:58 PM EST (1858 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.