http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1055186/posts "Russia hesitant to seize materials terrorists desire"
Washington Times ^ | 1/10/04 | Nicholas Kralev
Posted on 01/09/2004 10:43:47 PM PST by kattracks
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Russia is reluctant to join an 11-nation U.S.-led effort to seize illegal shipments of nuclear and other proliferation materials that could fall in the hands of terrorists, senior U.S. officials said yesterday.
Even though discussions are still in their initial stage, the officials said the Russians are not yet convinced of the legality and merits of the plan, known as the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and proposed by President Bush in the spring.
"They are not ready to join the process," a senior State Department official who asked not to be named told reporters. "They are interested but are raising a lot of questions."
Russia, which has a big navy despite its decline since the Soviet Union's collapse more than a decade ago, would be an "important player" in the PSI, the official said.
"It would add political weight as one of the founding member of nonproliferation regime," he said.
The PSI, which Mr. Bush put forth in a speech during a European trip, is designed to intercept on the high seas shipments of illicit arms and other proliferation materials from states and other actors Washington regards as supporters of international terrorism.
In addition to the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Australia joined the effort."