104-10326-1 0040] SECRET MHFENO: 98-1333007[ Ss aNSEND Event CONF : CE/EXO INFO; [0 wm, O12139% DIRECTOR 795035 PRIORITY INFO Cpe DISSEM CE/EXO INFO SLUGS : WNINTEL RYBAT eee = *SUBJECT: <ASSASSINATIONS>RECORDS REVIEW BOARD AW REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPROACHING ESB/SVER) FO D DEPT OF STATE R OSWALD FILE REF: NONE TEXT: 1. ACTION REQUIRED: WOULD APPRECIATE STATION THOUGHTS ON *BELOW PROPOSAL TO APPROACH FO8/SVR) SEEKING ACCESS TO FILE ON<LEE> *<HARVEY ( (OSWALD) ) .> * 2. THE<ASSASSINATIONS >RECORDS REVIEW BOARD (ARRB}), ESTABLISHED BY PUBLIC LAW 102-526 IN OCTOBER 1992, HAS THE PRESIDENTIAL MANDATE TO IDENTIFY, SECURE, AND MAKE AVAILABLE ALL *RECORDS RELATED TO THE<ASSASS INATION>OF <PRESIDENT KENNEDY .> THE IDENTIFIED (DECLASSIFIED) RECORDS WILL BE HOUSED IN THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION. ‘G: HAS HAD SOME DEALINGS WITH THE ARRB, BEGINNING WITH THEIR REQUEST FOR ACCESS TO THE RESTRICTED “HISTORY FROM THE 1960'S. THE ARRB‘S PREMISE IS DECLASSTFY AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE, EVEN *DOCUMENTS ONLY MOST TANGENTIALLY RELATED TO THE<KENNEDY> * <ASSASSINATION. » 3. PL 102-526 SPECIFICALLY STATES: “THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHOULD CONTACT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF RUSSIA AND SEEK THE DISCLOSURE OF ALL RECORDS OF THR GOVERNMENT OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION, INCLUDING THE RECORDS OF THE KOMITET GOSUDARSTVANNOY BEZOPASNOSTI (KGB) AND THE GLAYNOYE *RAZVEDYVATELNOYE UPRAVIENIYE (GRU), RELEVANT TO THE<ASSASSINATIONS *OF<PRESIDENT KENNEDY, >AND CONTACT ANY OTHER FOREIGN GOVERNMENT *THAT MAY HOLD INFORMATION RELEVANT TO THE<ASSASSINATION>OPF *<PRESIDENT KENNEDY>AND SEEK DISCLOSURE OF SUCH INFORMATION." 4. THE ARRB HAS REQUESTED STATE AND AGENCY HELP IN GETTING ACCESS TO THE KGB RECORDS ON OSWALD. THE RECORDS, ORIGINALLY HELD SECRET
13-00000 | SECRET MHENO?) 98-1333007 SENSTND: RYBAT i PAGE: 2 *IN MINSK, WERE FLOWN TO MOSCOW IN ‘63 FOLLOWING THE<ASSASSINATION, THEN RETURNED TO MINSK WHERE THEY ARE STORED TODAY. WHEN APPROACHED BY STATE AND THE ARRB, THE BELARUSIANS HAVE SHOWN SAMPLES FROM THE FILE BUT HAVE NOT AGREED TO ARRANGEMENTS TO COPY. THE ARRB CHARTER EXPIRES ON 30 SEPT 98 AND THE OLD KCB FILE(S) IS A MAJOR OUTSTANDING REQUIREMENT. STATE HAS MANAGED TO GET THE SUBJECT AS THE NUMBER ONE TALKING POINT ON VICE PRES GORE'S RECENT CONFERENCE DISCUSSIONS. THE BELARUSIAN RESPONSE WAS TO TRY IT AGAIN LOCALLY IN MINSK, OFFERING INCREASED "Copy FEES", 5. THE ARRB CHAIRMAN HAS COME BACK TO STATE TO ASK THEY CONTACT _THE_ AGENCY -WETH~PHE—FOLLOWING _ REQUEST :_ J@RNOTHES TATION CHECK WITH™PHEAESB/ SVR, TO DETERMINE” WHETHER THE’ f RUSSIANS RETAINED *A COPY OF THE<LEE HARVEY OSWALD'S>KGB FILE IN MOSCOW? CAN WE GET ACCESS TO THE FILE AND, PRESUMABLY, OBTAIN A COPY FOR THE ARRB? WE NOTE THAT THE ARRB WILL DROBABLY—PUSH.HARD_-TO_DECLASS LE¥—EHE RUSSIAN DOCUMENTS AS WELL. (OBVIOUSLY SUCH~A~ REQUEST—-COULD” HAVE 7 SEVERAL IMPLICATIONS” WHICH-WE MUST CAREFULLY CONSIDER, I.E.; THE USSTIANS MIGHT ASK FOR FILES OF THE ROSENBERGS OR OTHER NOTOR LOUS PERSONALITIES. THE HOS CONTEXT IS THAT WE ARE GRAPPLING WITH “| WE RRB ON A VARIETY OF OTHER SERIOUS DECLASSIFICATION/DISCLOSURE ASSUES AND WE MIGHT BE ABLE IN A BETTER NEGOTIATING POSITION IF \OULD BE SEEN AS ASSISTING THEIR EFFORTS TO GET THE OSWALD FILE. 6. OBVIOUSLY SUCH AN ACTION_HAS TREMENDOUS IMPLICATIONS AND WE WELCOME A FULL_DIALOGUE FROM-STATTON-ON THIS MATTER. REGAR EBRD SS | 6. FILE: NONE. CL BY: 714549, CL REASON: 1.5 (D)T7DECL ON: X5, DRV FROM: CABLETYPE: GECO STAFF 4.0.1.> REDNO: DORELSO100952954 END OF MESSAGE SECRET SECRET