MUMBAI: The US had threatened Russia with sanctions a number of times if Moscow continued nuclear and defence co-operation with India, declassifed transcripts of the Washington-based National Security Archive indicated Monday.
While there were disagreements on India in 1993 between both countries, there were assurances about a wide range of co-operation, with US President Bill Clinton’s early support, the transcripts suggest.
The National Security Archive is part of George Washington University.
According to the transcripts, a conversation between erstwhile Russian President Boris Yeltsin and Clinton on July 10, 1993, pointed to a productive exchange on a variety of issues, including progress on non-proliferation.
At the same time, the transcripts reveal that Clinton, while thanking Yelstin for his support on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CRBT), “raised the issue of possible sanctions if Russia does not stop selling missile technologies to India”.
Yelstin made it clear to Clinton that he does not like sanctions. “There should be no sanctions between friends. I cannot imagine sanctions between us. We are friends,’’ Yelstin told Clinton, expressing the need for a moratorium on sanctions.
Earlier, in a telephone conversation on June 28, 1993, Clinton raised with Yelstin a Russian deal to supply missile technologies to India.
“Without Russia cancelling the deal, the US might have to apply sanctions and Clinton would be limited in his ability to provide financial assistance,’’ the transcripts state.
This suggests the issue was very difficult for Yelstin. He stressed that the contract was signed by the erstwhile Soviet Union, not Russia, and insisted that “Russia cannot break relations with India’’.
Yelstin explained to Clinton that the agreement with India is important for the Russian defence industry which, he said, was trying to maintain production and keep its highly trained specialists.
According to the transcripts, Clinton pushed hard on this and linked it to a decision to give Russia access to the market for space launches and oil and gas investments.
Prior to this, on March 4, 1993, former US Secretary of State Warren Christopher had warned his Russian counterpart Andrey Kozyrev at a meeting in Geneva that further defence co-operation with India would lead to sanctions against Moscow.
While there were disagreements on India in 1993 between both countries, there were assurances about a wide range of co-operation, with US President Bill Clinton’s early support, the transcripts suggest.
The National Security Archive is part of George Washington University.
According to the transcripts, a conversation between erstwhile Russian President Boris Yeltsin and Clinton on July 10, 1993, pointed to a productive exchange on a variety of issues, including progress on non-proliferation.
At the same time, the transcripts reveal that Clinton, while thanking Yelstin for his support on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CRBT), “raised the issue of possible sanctions if Russia does not stop selling missile technologies to India”.
Yelstin made it clear to Clinton that he does not like sanctions. “There should be no sanctions between friends. I cannot imagine sanctions between us. We are friends,’’ Yelstin told Clinton, expressing the need for a moratorium on sanctions.
Earlier, in a telephone conversation on June 28, 1993, Clinton raised with Yelstin a Russian deal to supply missile technologies to India.
“Without Russia cancelling the deal, the US might have to apply sanctions and Clinton would be limited in his ability to provide financial assistance,’’ the transcripts state.
This suggests the issue was very difficult for Yelstin. He stressed that the contract was signed by the erstwhile Soviet Union, not Russia, and insisted that “Russia cannot break relations with India’’.
Yelstin explained to Clinton that the agreement with India is important for the Russian defence industry which, he said, was trying to maintain production and keep its highly trained specialists.
According to the transcripts, Clinton pushed hard on this and linked it to a decision to give Russia access to the market for space launches and oil and gas investments.
Prior to this, on March 4, 1993, former US Secretary of State Warren Christopher had warned his Russian counterpart Andrey Kozyrev at a meeting in Geneva that further defence co-operation with India would lead to sanctions against Moscow.