In fiscal year 1994, the new states of the former Soviet Union became collectively the second largest recipient of U.S. foreign assistance made available from all sources. Whether and how the assistance program is helping to bring about democratic systems and free market economies is increasingly a question of interest to Congress and the public at large.

This report provides background information regarding the Nuclear Arms Control negotiations between U.S. and Russia. In addition it discusses treaties, the content and form of the agreements.

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: New Guinea, Solomons, Tunisia, Burma, Libya, Europe, Russia, supply. Large world map is keyed to text and illustrates time zones around the world. Inset maps: [New Guinea] -- [Tunisia] -- [U.S.S.R.] Photographs: Southwest Pacific bombing mission; Trophies of war; Navy scout boards its cruiser. Back:"Learn to Recognize These Vehicles : Medium Tanks and Self-Propelled Artillery" poster gives identifying features and illustrations of various vehicles.

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: Russia, Central Italy, Italy, Azores, Air offensive, Norway, Southwest Pacific, Wake. Large world map shows United Nations, Axis and Axis occupied areas, countries with Axis relations broken, and neutral countries. Includes inset maps: Eastern Europe, Roads to Rome, the globe, Scene of combined operations in the southwest Pacific. Photographs: Burma bombing campaign, Modern road to Rome, Wake Island, Tailgunner Sergt. Harris Goldberg of Brookline, Mass. Back: Photographic view of the world with the center at Tokyo, Japan. Includes instructions for using a detachable scale that, when centered on Tokyo, measures distances along any line running through Tokyo.

This report discusses the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and the Obama administration's claim that Russia has violated the treaty by testing a land-based cruise missile with a range greater than 500 kilometers.

This report discusses the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations, begun in November 2001, which has entered its 11th year. It includes background on Doha and the significance of the negotiations, as well as a breakdown of issues on the Doha agenda and the role of the Congress.

Russia is seeking substantial debt forgiveness from its Paris Club debt of some $42 billion. Germany holds about half this official debt; the United States share is 6%. The United States may adopt a policy of no debt relief, of rescheduling payments of principal and interest, or of debt forgiveness. The official position of creditor countries in the Paris Club is for no debt forgiveness. Many in Congress support linkage of any debt relief to an end of the Chechnya conflict and of aid to Serbia, and other foreign and security issues. H.R. 4118, "Russian-American Trust and Cooperation Act of 2000," dealing with a Russian intelligence facility in Cuba, was reported out of the U.S. House of Representatives to be debated starting Wednesday, July 19, 2000. Paris Club negotiations will be discussed at the Okinawa G-8 meeting, July 21-22, 2000. This report will not be updated.

Demand patterns for world oil and oil products show significant diversity by country, region, and product groupings. As a result of this diversity it is not possible to attach blame for the current level of price to any one nation, region, or product segment. The view that the oil market is international in scope and tightly interrelated is enhanced by the demand data. As a result of the integrated nature of the world oil market it is unlikely that any one nation acting on its own can implement policies that isolate its market from broader price behavior. As new major oil importers, notably China, and potentially India, expand their demand, the oil market likely will have to expand production capacity. This promises to increase the world’s dependence on the Persian Gulf members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, especially Saudi Arabia, and maintain upward pressure on price.

At several meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President George W. Bush stated that his administration will work with the Congress to grant Russia permanent 'normal trade relations" (PNTR) status. The change in Russia's trade status will require legislation to lift the restrictions currently applied to Russia under Title IV of the Trade Act of 1974, which includes the "freedom-of-emigration" requirements of the Jackson-Vanik amendment. The Bush Administration requested the 108th Congress to act. Two bills were introduced in the Senate and one in the House but none of them received further congressional action.

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