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Russia 'concerned' over U.S.-Pak. defence ties

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW SEPT. 13. Russia has conveyed its concerns to the United States over its defence ties with Pakistan, a senior Russian diplomat said. Moscow's anxieties were raised at the Russian-American Foreign Ministry consultations on strategic issues held here today.

``We have certain concerns regarding U. S. military ties with a number of countries, particularly Pakistan, which not only possesses nuclear weapons but has terrorists hiding on its territory, including those who have been targeting the U. S.,'' the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Georgy Mamedov, said after talks with the visiting U.S. Under-Secretary of State, John Bolton.

The Russian side raised the issue of Pakistan when the U. S. envoy complained about Moscow's military and nuclear cooperation with Iran. ``Such concerns can be discussed only on the basis of reciprocity,'' Mr. Mamedov was quoted as telling the Interfax news agency.

He said Russia was willing to look into U. S. suspicions regarding dealings with Iran by "individual business structures, factories or personalities (in Russia) who violate Russian laws.'' But Russia's official relations with Iran "are our sovereign right''. ``We have been pursuing and will continue to pursue peaceful cooperation with Iran in nuclear energy, which is legitimate, complies with all international norms, and has nothing to do with any military nuclear programmes in Iran,'' Mr. Mamedov said.

The Russian diplomat made it clear that Russia would again voice its apprehensions about the U.S.-Pakistan defence ties at the first meeting of the U.S.-Russian Consultative Group on Strategic Security that will bring the Defence and Foreign Ministers of both countries together in Washington next week.

``We have raised and will continue to raise these issues with the American side, and we are getting answers,'' the Russian diplomat said. "This is normal dialogue."

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