DATE=  11/21/97

TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT

NUMBER=5-38161

TITLE=RUSSIA / TERRORISM

BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN

DATELINE=MOSCOW

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  SUITCASE BOMBS AND STOLEN PLUTONIUM IN THE HANDS OF A 

TERRORIST GROUP.  IT MAKES A GOOD MOVIE PLOT, BUT IS IT A REAL 

THREAT?  TERRORISM EXPERTS SAY YES, BUT  NOT  AS MUCH AS 

HOLLYWOOD MIGHT HAVE US THINK.  V-O-A'S PETER HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW 

REPORTS COUNTER-TERRORISM WAS HIGH ON THE AGENDA THIS WEEK WHEN 

THE HEAD OF THE U-S FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION PAID A VISIT 

TO THE RUSSIAN CAPITAL.



TEXT:  IT IS A FRIGHTENING THOUGHT -- A CRIMINAL GANG STEALS OR 

MANUFACTURES A PORTABLE NUCLEAR BOMB AND HOLDS THE WORLD HOSTAGE.



F-B-I DIRECTOR LOUIS FREEH ADMITS SUCH SCENARIOS ARE CONSTANTLY 

ON THE MINDS OF COUNTER-TERRORISM EXPERTS TRACKING DEVELOPMENTS 

IN THE FORMER SOVIET UNION.  BUT HE SAYS THERE IS VERY LITTLE 

HARD EVIDENCE THAT A REAL-LIFE NUCLEAR MAFIA EXISTS.



                       ///  FREEH ACT  ///



         THERE'S  NO  EVIDENCE WE'VE SEEN WHICH ESTABLISHES THEFT

         OR CRIMINAL DIVERSION FOR CRIMINAL OR TERRORIST PURPOSES

         AND  NO   LINK BETWEEN ANY ORGANIZED CRIME GROUP.  BUT 

         AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE VERY ALERT TO AND OPEN 

         MINDED ABOUT, AND WE  CAN'T  AFFORD TO HAVE ONE OF THESE

         CASES, SO WE TREAT THEM WITH UTMOST SERIOUSNESS.



                        ///  END ACT  ///



SINCE THE SOVIET UNION COLLAPSED, WESTERN GOVERNMENTS HAVE 

EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT A FORMER SOVIET NUCLEAR SCIENTIST MIGHT 

SELL HIS KNOW-HOW TO A ROGUE STATE OR A CRIMINAL GROUP.  MORE 

RECENTLY, EXPERTS HAVE DISCUSSED THE POSSIBLE THEFT OF PORTABLE 

NUCLEAR DEVICES KNOWN AS "SUITCASE BOMBS".



MR. FREEH SAYS THE F-B-I IS COOPERATING WITH RUSSIA'S DOMESTIC 

INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, THE F-S-B, TO PREVENT THESE SO-CALLED "LOOSE

NUKES" FROM FALLING INTO THE HANDS OF TERRORISTS.



                     ///  2ND FREEH ACT  ///



         WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS HERE ON 

         SEVERAL CASES THEY BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION WHERE THE 

         CONCERNS HAD TO DO EXACTLY WITH THE THEFT AND 

         PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS.  NONE OF THOSE CASES

         RESULTED IN PROVING ANY LINK BETWEEN PARTICULAR THEFTS 

         OR SALES OF THOSE MATERIALS.  WE'VE ALSO  NOT  SEEN ANY 

         CONNECTION BETWEEN ORGANIZED CRIME AND THAT ACTIVITY.



                        ///  END ACT  ///



MR. FREEH SAID RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES ASSURED HIM SUFFICIENT 

CONTROLS ARE IN PLACE TO PROTECT NUCLEAR MATERIALS. 



A COUNTERINTELLIGENCE EXPERT WITH THE RUSSIAN F-S-B, SERGEI 

BOGDANOV, DESCRIBES THE TALK ABOUT "LOOSE NUKES" AS PROPAGANDA.  

HE SAYS OF 150 CASES INVOLVING THE ATTEMPTED SALE OF NUCLEAR 

MATERIAL IN RUSSIA,  NONE  INVOLVED SCIENTISTS OR WEAPONS-GRADE 

MATERIALS.



        ///  BOGDANOV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER  ///



MR. BOGDANOV SAID ALL THE CASES THEY INVESTIGATED INVOLVED  

MATERIALS WHICH COULD  NOT  HAVE BEEN USED IN MAKING NUCLEAR 

WEAPONS. 



MOST EXPERTS AGREE RUSSIA REMAINS VULNERABLE TO THEFT AND BLACK 

MARKET TRANSACTIONS OF WEAPONS-GRADE MATERIALS. BUT, AS ONE 

WESTERN ANALYST SAID, WHILE THE PROBABILITY OF NUCLEAR TERRORISM 

IS LOW, THE POTENTIAL COST IS GRAVE ENOUGH TO DESERVE CONSTANT 

ATTENTION.  (SIGNED)



NEB/PFH/JWH/EH



21-Nov-97 12:01 PM EST (1701 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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