The Russian Defense Ministry is building an underground complex near Beloretsk (Bashkortostan), that may threaten U.S. disarmament aid to Russia, The New York Times reported on 16 April. Russian officials refuse to reveal the purpose of the huge complex, which Clinton administration officials speculate may be anything from a command-and-control bunker for Russian nuclear forces to a secret weapons depot. Russia claims financial hardships will hamper the full implementation of arms control agreements such as START II, but it appears that the complex in the Urals is swallowing significant funds. Under current U.S. law, Nunn-Lugar disarmament aid can only be disbursed to Russia if the U.S. president can certify that Russian military programs do not exceed ``legitimate defense requirements''. --- Scott Parrish
16 апреля 1996г. Радио ``Свобода'' / ``Свободная Европа'' --- Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty