RUSSIAN APPROACH TO ADVANCED WEAPONS PROLIFERATION - CHANGE AND CONTINUITY

There is considerable contradiction in Russian statements and attitude s on the issues of arms proliferation and foreign arms sales. This ten sion arises from Russia's commitment to cooperate with the West on non proliferation policies, yet there are internal pressures to expand its weapons exporter role. Another difficulty is the ineffectiveness of c ollective mechanisms at the level of the Commonwealth of Independent S tates (CIS). Russia should streamline its export control system, and t he West should help bring the external policies of all the former Sovi et republics into line with accepted standards in this area.