Washington, 29 October 1996 (RFE/RL) -- The State Department says the United States believes that the Russian government officials "appear to have control over their nuclear forces."
Spokesman Nicholas Burns made the comment when he was asked about a recent speech by Russian Defense Minister Igor Rodionov who said cash-strapped Russian military was on the brink of "uncontrollable developments."
Burns agreed that Russian military "has fallen on some hard times." But he said the United States knows the Russian leadership is sensitive to this and said Rodionov's speech was an example of this.
Burns added that the United States continues to have "very good" relations with the Russian military.
"Our military relations have never been closer than they are today," he said.