Russia Seeking More Food Aid,
But Wants Chicken, Not Beef

WASHINGTON — The Russians want more credit to purchase food and commodities, but they are opting for increased supplies of chicken rather than beef.

Russia asked the United States at the end of September to provide more food after a poor harvest for the second straight year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's response to the new Russian request for additional assistance will be based in part on experience with the current program, according to Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman.

USDA and a State Department team of technicians recently returned from Russia where they evaluated the Russian harvest, storage and livestock situation. The report is still being compiled.

There are concerns over corruption and money laundering by the Russians, although the food programs do not appear to be involved.

"The Secretary is considering what's in their request, but he's also waiting to see what our technical teams have brought back from their recent visit to Russia and try and meet our assessment of their needs and their requests versus what commodities we have available for humanitarian and economic assistance," says Richard Fritz, USDA's sales manager.

Right now, U.S. food and commodity aid shipments to Russia are under an elaborate monitoring system, USDA officials say.

Fritz says that will continue with any future shipments.

"So far, the shipments have arrived at their legal destinations," he says. "We have found no diversion of either products or funds from our food efforts, and it has been stated to the Russians by the Secretary that should there be any diversion that we would halt the program and review the program and take further measures to make sure that food gets to where it's supposed to go."

Much review is needed, he says, before the Russians get another round of aid.

"There has to be further discussions with the Russians to determine what mix of commodities may be in a package," Fritz says, "and we have to consult with the other agencies of the U.S. government about this package and whether or not the U.S. government wants to engage in additional food assistance to the Russian Federation."

Glickman says he's not ready to commit to another package of aid to Russia.