MOSCOW, July 18 (Interfax) - Former Russian Defense Minister Igor Rodionov in an interview published Friday with the newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta said he saw no one person or body currently answering for defense issues.

The Russian political leadership does not realize that the changes in the armed forces are only a part of the military reform, he said.

"In the past 5-6 years the army has experienced nothing but destructive processes. It is not being reduced, it is collapsing. I cannot understand why our leadership takes military reform so irresponsibly," he said.

Rodionov claimed that such a position "benefits the United States, NATO members and anyone else having unfriendly feelings for us."

He said there is a fifth column in Russia working to reduce the combat capability of the Russian army. However, "I cannot say it is present in the armed forces."

Rodionov claimed that Defense Council Secretary Yuri Baturin "stands between the president and the Defense Ministry." When the defense minister was in direct contact with the president, all matters were resolved much faster.

Rodionov, who has joined a military lobby founded by Duma Defense Committee Chairman Lev Rokhlin, does not regard the movement as an opposition one. Rodionov said he met with his successor Igor Sergeyev a few days ago. "We should work parallel with the Defense Ministry for the sake of carrying out our plans."

Rodionov was critical of former Security Council Secretary Alexander Lebed's presidential ambitions. "He has too much self-assurance, self-willed arrogance, reluctance to hear a differing opinion." said Rodionov.

"And I believe he is being manipulated," he said.

Rodionov was appointed defense minister last summer with backing from Lebed, himself only recently appointed security council secretary.

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Johnson's Russia List

#1060

18 July 1997

djohnson@cdi.org