UKRAINE/SPACE.

Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers has begun reviewing draft legislation that would establish legal mechanisms to regulate the country’s space program. This draft law, critical if Ukraine is to develop a profit-making space industry, originated in the National Space Agency. (7) The program presently revolves around the Ukrainian-made Zenit booster and the conversion of military launchers to commercial satellite purposes. Kiev is at work trying to gain exemption from US rules limiting the number of American satellites that can be launched from foreign boosters. Signs are that US negotiators are not inclined to make that concession. (8)

Duma Chairman/Iran