geoff@sunfs3.camex.uucp (Geoffrey Knauth) (11/11/88)
John Draper mentioned four major points:
A) Joint Software Development Projects with the Soviets.
B) Inexpensive e-mail available between San Francisco and Moscow.
C) Do's and Don'ts on dealing with the Soviets.
D) Some very interesting opportunities for information exchange
between the Soviets and Western worlds.
As one occasionally involved with US-USSR trade, I offer the following.
A) I have been approached by a programmer, Oleg Yachny of Akademgorok,
Novosibirsk, USSR, about the possibility of establishing a joint
software venture. Reaction in the US has ranged from "Look out, the
KGB is trying to recruit you" to "Check it out, but be careful." I
first became acquainted with Oleg as a pen-pal while at Harvard, and I
visited his home in Siberia in 1985.
B) The only SFO-SVU e-mail I know of was described in the 5/31/88
issue of MacWeek. It is a private venture between a somewhat bold
entrepreneur in the US and state agencies of the USSR. I call the
entrepreneur bold because he has had occasional legal difficulties in
the US.
C) What constitutes legitimate, legal trade with the USSR? No
American wants to find himself suspected of treasonous activity.
*************************************************************************
* The greatest obstacle to US-USSR trade and technical cooperation, I *
* believe, is the lack of a coordinating agency in the United States *
* that can serve to guide inexperienced, disorganized Americans in *
* dealing with the Soviet Union. *
*************************************************************************
D) The USSR is undoubtedly one of the most interesting places on
Earth. But not only are there opportunities and challenges--there are
also threats and traps, even for the seasoned trader/traveller. Until
the US develops an integrated, organized plan for US-USSR trade, I
think progress in trade relations will be, and must be slow.
--
Geoffrey S. Knauth ARPA: geoff%lloyd@husc6.harvard.edu
Camex, Inc. UUCP: geoff@lloyd.uucp or husc6!lloyd!geoff
75 Kneeland St., Boston, MA 02111
Tel: (617)426-3577 Fax: 426-9285 I do not speak for Camex.