.Russia "surprised" by changing US reaction to security initiatives.

MOSCOW, February 5 (Itar-Tass) -- The Russian foreign ministry said on Thursday it was "surprised' by changing US attitude to Russian initiatives for European security.

Commenting on the statement of US Assistant Secretary of State Phil
Gordon, who doubted the necessity of Russian initiatives and said existing
institutions were sufficient, foreign ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko
said "we are surprised that assessments voiced by a high-ranking US
diplomat are clearly out of tune with the tonality and contents of
Russian-U.S. dialogue on the important issue, which is underway between
the two countries also on the top level."
Nesterenko recalled that initially the U.S. administration displayed
interest in Russian proposals on a new European architecture.
"From personal contacts, as well as messages of the presidents of both
countries we had an impression that the U.S. administration reacted with
interest to Russian proposals and demonstrated readiness for further
dialogue," Nesterenko said.
As for discriminative Jackson-Vanik trade amendment, Nesterenko said
Russia hopes the Obama administration would work to lift it.
"The issue is on the agenda of the working group for the development
of trade and economic cooperation that was set up in the framework of
recently created presidential commission. We hope the administration of
Barack Obama will get things moving," he said.

.Russian, US senators agree to discuss START ratification.

WASHIGNTON, February 5 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian and U.S. senators will
meet in Washington in April to promote ratification of the new strategic
arms reduction treaty, which is likely to be concluded in spring.
Chairman of the Federation Council committee for international affairs
Mikhail Margelov told Tass on Thursday he agreed with Senator Benjamin
Nelson, who co-chairs the working group of the Russian Federation Council
and the U.S. Senate, that 7-8 senators from each side would meet to
arrange for ratification.
"The work on the text (of the treaty) is likely coming to an end.
After the presidents sign it, parliamentarians will have to step in. We
agreed with my colleague Senator Benjamin Nelson to hold a joint meeting
of senators right after the end of the April summit on nuclear security in
Washington to discuss the schedule of our work because the presidents have
agreed on a simultaneous ratification of the treaty," Margelov said.
"It would be a mistake to claim that we need the ratification of the
new START treaty more than Americans. We also have a lot of those wishing
to increase the armaments, and they also have enough of such people.
Therefore, we equally need the ratification," Margelov said.
Besides Nelson, Margelov also met Undersecretary of State for
political affairs William Burns, deputy assistant secretary of defense for
international security affairs Joseph McMillan, and deputy assistant
secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Celeste Wallander.
The meetings "give grounds to hope the Obama administration is sure it
will work with the Congress convincingly," Margelov said, adding the
interlocutors assured him "that national security issues can and will
yield bi-partisan consensus."

.US evasive on START signing date, venue.

WASHINGTON, February 5 (Itar-Tass) -- The U.S. State Department
refused to disclose a possible date and venue for the signing of a new
strategic arms reduction treaty (START) with Russia, saying only
negotiations are likely to be completed shortly.
"I think we are optimistic that with the START negotiations having
reconvened this week in Geneva, the remaining issues can be resolved and
negotiations completed rather quickly," Assistant Secretary of State
Philip Crowley told a regular briefing on Thursday.
He said the treaty was "in Russia's interests and the United States
interests", but refused to give a particular timeline for the signing or
disclose the venue.
On Wednesday Kremlin foreign policy aide Sergei Prikhodko said March
or April were "realistic deadlines' for the new treaty signing that can
take place probably in Prague, the Czech Republic.
Asked for comment, Crowley said: "Let's get across the finish line,
and then we can figure out where we go from there."

.USA lifts sanctions against Russian university.

WASHINGTON, February 5 (Itar-Tass) -- The United States lifted
sanctions imposed on Russia's Baltic State Technical University in 1998
for alleged assistance to Iranian missile program.
The decision published in the official Federal Register said sanctions
had been imposed for non-proliferation breaches and lifted in compliance
with U.S. foreign policy and national security interests.
The U. S. government issued sanctions against seven Russian entities
on July 15, 1998, including St. Petersburg-based Baltic University, also
known as the Ustinov Military Technical School.
In 1997, Iranian students from the Sanam Industries Group, one of the
leading organizations in Iran's ballistic missile program, reportedly
received training in missile design at the University.
In July 1998, the Russian Government Commission on Export Control
placed Baltic State Technical University under "special investigation" for
suspected violations of Russian laws governing the export of dual-use
commodities connected with weapons of mass destruction and missile systems.
Training for the Iranian students at the Baltic State University was
halted the same month. However University Rector Yury Savelyev denied
assisting Iranian missile program, saying the 25 Iranian students only
took classes which fell within "the Russian general educational
engineering program."
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