MOSCOW DENIES WEAPONS PROLIFERATION CHARGE.

As might have been expected, Russian government officials yesterday vehemently denied a CIA report alleging that Russian and Chinese businesses and quasi-government agencies pose a growing international proliferation threat (see the Monitor, February 11). Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Maslyukov was quoted as insisting that the Russian government’s system of export controls ensures that sensitive military technologies are not leaked to foreign countries. Maslyukov, who heads a government commission overseeing Russia’s military and technical cooperation with foreign countries, also said that Russia is willing to work with other countries, including the United States, on proliferation issues. He added, however, that the CIA report was politically motivated (Russian agencies, February 10).

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service also denied the CIA report yesterday. An agency spokesman reportedly said that “according to available data, there are no existing facts of violation of international agreements by Russia on a state level” in this area (Russian agencies, February 10). The CIA study had said that the Russian and Chinese “entities” responsible for leaking military technologies may be operating outside the control of their respective governments. That is a charge which both the United States and Israel have repeatedly leveled against Russia.

SELEZNEV CLAIMS DUMA BACKING FOR NONAGGRESSION PACT.