Containing Russia's Nuclear Firebirds: Harmony and Change at the International Science and Technology Center

2. Off to a Fast Start (1994–2000)

CHAPTER TWO Off to a Fast Start (1994–2000) Nuclear scientists of all friendly countries unite. The International Science and Technology Center will soon be established in Moscow. —Red Star newspaper, 1992 We will pay salaries as usual: little and rarely. —Russian Ministry of Finance, 1999 The political turmoil in Moscow in the fall of 1993 led President Boris Yeltsin to abolish the Russian Parliament (then called the Supreme Soviet ) that was created when the Soviet Union splintered into fifteen separate countries. My Russian colleagues anticipated that in the wake of this political clash, the Duma, which was established soon thereafter as Russia’s key legislative body, would spend many months and perhaps years wrangling over a host of issues affecting both the nation’s role in a rapidly changing world order and the internal governance of the country. Only then, they predicted, would the legislators turn their attention to the plight of Russian scientists and the ratification of the istc Agreement. However, as discussed in chapter 1, clever Russian diplomats quickly developed a provisional international protocol designed to establish the istc on a temporary basis without the need for ratification by the Russian legislature. The other interested governments agreed that an imperfect arrangement without ratification by Russia was better than no arrangement when it came to stemming proliferation of weapons expertise. Thus, by early 1994, the protocol had been signed by all parties, the istc was in place, and operations began. With the establishment of the istc came needed sources of money from abroad, which would flow through new pipelines to Russian scientists. This interim status continued for many years. Ratification by the Duma actually was never achieved, although istc representatives and senior Russian Off to a Fast Start [19] officials held frequent discussions with Duma leaders over this possibility. At times, the likelihood of negative reactions among key legislators to proposed istc policies influenced in a minor way the shaping of some policies, with particular attention focused on the role of the center in supporting commercially oriented research activities. In this area of concern, several Duma members were adamant that the istc remain at a distance from commercial transactions. Still, while taking into account these views, the istc Secretariat provided advice and travel support to Russian researchers who were trying to make commercial deals for the products of their research. Somewhat amazingly, reluctance within the Duma to ratify the istc Agreement and occasional expressions by Duma members of opposition to approaches of the istc did not thwart the operations of the center in a significant way over many years. Early successes and shortcomings in addressing significant policy issues, initiation of different types of programs, and development of mechanisms to increase the effectiveness and the impacts of istc projects are the focal points of this chapter. The lack of international experience of some previously isolated Russian scientists and their questionable readiness to participate in international projects were early concerns. But in short order, even some of the most reclusive specialists learned how to compete for research funding in contrast to their previous experience of simple reliance on funds earmarked by central planners in Moscow for their use. I highlight in this chapter early assessments of the effectiveness of the center by the istc Governing Board and recommendations set forth by several external evaluation teams that provided important insights as to new opportunities for enhancing the effectiveness of the center. My observations are directed primarily to developments through the year 2000. However, many administrative challenges and barriers to effective interactions of Western scientists with colleagues at previously closed facilities during this period remained important issues well into the following decade. LAUNCHING THE ISTC Throughout 1994 the four original proponents of the istc Agreement inaugurated the center with the launch of nearly a hundred projects approved during four meetings of the istc Governing Board. Almost all of these projects were carried out in Russia. They addressed a wide variety of advanced technology topics. [20] Chapter Two Soon the istc membership expanded. In 1994 Finland and Sweden became funding parties. In later years they withdrew their memberships so that they could participate through their new affiliations within the European Union. Other countries that had once been components of the former Soviet Union also joined and became recipients of international funds for projects located within their boundaries. These new recipient states were Georgia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Armenia. Later, Norway, the Republic...