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On 28 October, General Habiger stated: "One of the major objectives of me coming over here was to dispel the perceptions going around that their [Russia's] safety and security of nuclear weapons had been compromised or was at some risk." General Habiger then announced a programme designed to enable both countries to better monitor each other's nuclear security arrangements in operation:
"We've agreed to what we call a shadow programme where we get a division commander, a missile division commander, a regiment commander, a battalion commander and a missile crew member to come to the United States and shadow their counterparts for approximately one week... He [Commander-in-Chief Yakovlev] is going to reciprocate and we will send comparable people to Russia."
On his return to Washington, General Habiger spoke to reporters about his visit:
"Was it representative? I'd like to think so... They made it very clear that the facility I was in in Kostroma was very representative of the missile bases in Russia... I went to talk to the security people who were guarding the [Kostroma] facility and, as a matter of fact, every one of my questions was answered. And I was shown a lot of things that I was impressed with..."
Reports: Gen. Habiger to visit Russian strategic rocket forces, United States Information Service, 21 October; US general says Russia to 'shadow' nuclear staff, Reuters, 29 October; Russia safeguards called impressive, Associated Press, 4 November
© 1998 The Acronym Institute.