DATE= 12/5/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-223736

TITLE=U-S / RUSSIA SPY (S)

BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN

DATELINE=STATE DEPT.

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:



INTRO:  THE UNITED STATES HAS FORMALLY PROTESTED TO RUSSIA ABOUT

THE ESPIONAGE CHARGES FILED AGAINST AN AMERICAN ENGINEER.  RON

PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE UNITED STATES IS

THREATENING RUSSIA WITH CONSEQUENCES.



TEXT:  THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE AMERICAN COMMERCIAL

RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE ESPIONAGE CHARGES

FILED AGAINST RICHARD BLISS, AN AMERICAN ENGINEER WHO WAS DOING

LAND SURVERYS IN THE CITY OF ROSTOV.



RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR YULI VORONTSOV WAS CALLED TO THE STATE

DEPARTMENT TO RECEIVE THE AMERICAN PROTEST. SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY

SAYS THE ESPIONAGE CHARGES HAVE NO FOUNDATION.



                         ///FOLEY ACT///



         WE ARE URGING THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT TO RELEASE MR.

         BLISS IMMEDIATELY. THE UNITED STATES IS DISTURBED THAT

         THE RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES TOOK THIS STEP, AS THERE IS NO

         CREDIBLE REASON FOR THE ACCUSATIONS MADE AGAINST HIM.



                          //END ACT///



MR. FOLEY SAYS THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR

AMERICAN EFFORTS TO PROMOTE COMMERCIAL TIES WITH RUSSIA AND FOR

RUSSIA'S DESIRE TO INTEGRATE INTO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

(SIGNED)



NEB/RP/RRM



05-Dec-97 3:10 PM EST (2010 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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