1 -~------NEVVS------N_A_ru__ ~ __ vo_L_.~_l_1_2_MA __ v_l~ __ Soviet biotechnology Soviet human rights Science confused by politics One-way trip A CONFIDENT self-appraisal of Soviet bio- the proceedings at this point lapsed into a technology was given in last week somewhat pantomimic and certainly un­ by a delegation from the Soviet Academy structured discussion of world affairs. for Sakharov? of Science to a biotechnology conference On its planned discussion with the Royal Jerusalem and exhibition. The delegation, led by the Society of the Anglo-Soviet exchange THE Soviet authorities may be rethinking academy's vice-president Academician agreement, for example, the delegation their attitude on Dr . Ac­ Yurii Ovchinnikov, also rehearsed for a hinted darkly at the "political" influences cording to Professor Peter Weinzierl, head tiny press conference in London a fierce that had two years ago reduced the quota of the Institute of Experimental Physics of attack on United States policies on defence (measured in man-months per year) of Vienna University. Citing "unidentified and other matters. facilitated exchange and a little reluctantly diplomatic sources", Professor Weinzierl According to Ovchinnikov, the Soviet said that it would like to add to the existing said last month that there is ''a great possi­ academy began planning a programme of programme some means by which there bility" that the Soviet authorities would research in biotechnology as long ago as could be a directed exchange of people permit Sakharov to travel to Vienna to take 1972. Since 1974, there has been a formal betweengovernmentlaboratories. D up a visiting professorship at the universi­ plan for collaboration between academy ty. The Austrian Ministry of Science and institutes which was concentrated, to begin Research, which has forwarded the univer­ with, on traditional biotechnology. But Taking a broad view sity's invitation to the Austrian Embassy in now, Ovchinnikov said, both insulin and THE Soviet delegation's discussion of , says that there should be no human growth hormone are being manu­ nuclear and other weapons, advertised in "over-optimism and speculation at this factured from ~enetically manipulated advance by the distribution of copies of an stage". bacteria. appeal for nuclear disannament by a large Similar caution was expressed at the The Soviet strength, according to group of prominent Soviet scientists (publi· Weizmann Institute at Rehovot, Israel, Ovchinnikov, is in microbiology, where the shed on 9 April by the Soviet news agency where on 28 April Sakharov was awarded is "ahead" of even the TASS), was introduced by the observation in absentia an honorary doctorate in United States. Last week, however, he that although it might be held that scientists recognition of his achievements in physics acknowledged the expertise of West should not engage In poUtics, "you cannot and his services to human rights. A small Germany in the manipulation of plant ignore what is going on in the world''. exhibition at the Weizmann Institute genes, now one of the chief objectives of The 9 April declaration is a comment on mounted to celebrate the award by Dr Ed­ the academy's programme in biotech­ President Ronald Reagan's "star wars" ward Trifonov (a personal acquaintance of nology designed as a contribution to speech of 23 March, advocating the Sakharov) and Dr Harry Lipkin (a increased food production in the Soviet development of new kinds of antiballistic physicist whose scientific interests closely Union. The use of materials related to missile defences. To the suggestion that Mr parallel those of Sakharov, and who rep­ pheromones as specific pesticides, of Reagan's musings hardly justified such a resented him at the degree ceremony), drew cellular manipulation for the production of strong stand by the Soviet Academy, given attention to a statement by the Norwegian new plant hybrids and of embryonic trans­ the scepticism of the US Congress and of human rights activist Viktor Sparre that in plantation for multiplying the productivity critics outside the government, the Soviet 1975 Sakharov was not permitted to travel of superior breeding females are among the delegation replied that nobody could to Stockholm to collect his Nobel Peace immediate goals. expect the Soviet Union to count on good Prize, on the grounds that he was in posses­ The rights and wrongs of the CoCom sense prevailing, that the Pentagon was sion of classified information. strategic embargo arise even in this con­ already working on novel anti-missile Sakharov himself, moreover, feared that nection, and the delegation complained weapons systems and that the Soviet Union if he left the Soviet Union he might not be that it was "foolish" that the sale by the would have no chance but to foUow suit. permitted to return (as happened to his West of many of the materials required in According to Skryabin, " are scientists fellow scientists Valerii Chalidze and genetic manipulation is embargoed when but are being forced Into being politicians" Zhores Medvedev), and when applying for the Soviet Union is self-sufficient in radio­ by the threat of nuclear war. a passport in 1975 he had asked for active chemicals, restriction enzymes and Many of the signatories of the Moscow guarantees that he would be permitted to the like. declaration of 9 April are academicians, re-enter the Soviet Union. Similar fears By way of answer to a request from a for which reason it was natural to ask why prevented him from applying to accom­ Soviet journalist for a denial of the claim .Andrei Sakharov had not been asked to pany his wife to Italy in 1977 when she that the Soviet Union lags behind the sign. Academician Skryabin's impassioned travelled there for an operation on her eyes, United States in microelectronics, reply was that Soviet scientists did not wish since at that time he felt it his duty to re­ Ovchinnikov said that the Soviet Union to see their signatures alongside that of the main in Moscow as principal spokesman would not have been able to launch only one among them who had publicly for the human rights movement. sophisticated spacecraft if the canard were appealed to the US President not to supply Since January 1980, however, when he true, that both software development and grain to the Soviet Union, "thus depriving was sent into' 'internal exile'' in Gor'kii, he semiconductor research were "in good our cbildren of bread". Mr Skryabln went has lived in virtual isolation, and although shape" but that there were difficulties on to say that Soviet scientists were in his first months there he managed to do of "organization" in the industrial appli­ resentful that Sakharov had all along been some theoretical work, the lack of access to cation of computers. paid a salary of 1,200 rubles a month, and a scientific library and the repeated loss of Academician G.K. Skryabin, chief that he had "used for his own purposes" of his notebooks to security searches have, ac­ scientific secretary of the Soviet Academy protest the excuse that the Soviet cording to recent reports, made him vir­ and an impassioned speaker on general Government had refused permission for tually abandon the attempts. themes, interjected at this point the his stepdaughter to emigrate, forgetting In these conditions he might well see the sensible remark that "no one country can that her parents had also refused invitation to Vienna as his last chance to have equally good basic science in all permission. In the circumstances, Skryabin resume his scientific and humanitarian ac­ fields". Unfortunately, perhaps because "underlined", Soviet scientists were tivities providing, of course, that the Soviet the Soviet and Western concepts of what entirely justified in ostracizing Sakharov. authorities are really willing to let him press conferences are for do not coincide, leave. VeraRich

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