U.S. SAYS RUSSIA IS PROLIFERATOR OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

In a report to Congress released this week, the Central Intelligence Agency named Russia — along with China — as a major exporter of weapons of mass destruction and related technologies over the latter half of 1996. Although China was deemed the more serious offender, Russia was criticized for supplying ballistic missile-related goods to a number of foreign countries, and especially to Iran. The report concluded that cooperation with Russia and China is crucial if efforts to curb the proliferation of such weapons is to be successful. (Washington Post, July 2)

Washington’s concern about Russian nuclear weapons policies was also highlighted earlier this week when the Department of Commerce put out a revision of its "Entity List." That is a listing of companies and organizations that can be sold certain dual-use items — such as super computers — only with an export license. Russia’s two nuclear weapons design laboratories — at Chelyabinsk-70 and Arzamas-16 — were added to the list, as were "any other entities, institutes, or centers associated with [Russia’s] Ministry of Atomic Power" in these two cities. (Federal Register, June 30)

Iraqi Parliamentary Delegation in Moscow.