Russia: Don't Have to Share Data       08/20 06:16

   The Russian foreign ministry has responded to reports that several of its 
radiation monitoring stations went silent shortly after a deadly explosion at a 
missile range by saying it is not obliged to share data with other nations.

   MOSCOW (AP) -- The Russian foreign ministry has responded to reports that 
several of its radiation monitoring stations went silent shortly after a deadly 
explosion at a missile range by saying it is not obliged to share data with 
other nations.

   Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the Interfax news agency Tuesday 
that it is Russia's choice, not an obligation, to share data under the 
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. He did not directly address the reports 
that information on radiation levels was not shared.

   The mysterious accident on the White Sea in northwestern Russia earlier this 
month, along with changing or contradictory information from Russian 
authorities, has led to speculation about what happened and what type of weapon 
was involved. It has even raised comparisons to the 1986 disaster at the 
Chernobyl nuclear power plant.


(KR)