134 



with the Eiiropeans. That is not progressing as well as they had 

 hoped. And there are obvious problems with investing in an econ- 

 omy that is inflating at 20, 30, 40 percent a month, that doesn't 

 have a commercial code, that doesn't have a banking system that 

 works. And the hst goes on. But I can't speak for American busi- 

 ness about the exact reasons why some of these haven't worked 

 out. 



Mr. Allard. The .reason I asked is because I am interested in 

 your perspective as sort of from an outside-t5TDe perspective. So I 

 appreciate your comments and thank you. 



Mr. Penny. Mr. Barlow. 



Mr. Barlow. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



You are from Kentucky? What is your background, please? 



Mr. INFANGER. I am in the college of agriculture. I work for Dean 

 Little. I am an Extension specialist in the department of agricul- 

 tural economics. 



Mr. Barlow. How long have you been on the university staff? 



Mr. Infanger. Nineteen years including 2 years in Washington, 

 DC, 2 years in Thailand and various other short-term departures. 

 Now this 1 year in Russia. 



Mr. Barlow. Do you speak Russian? 



Mr. Infanger. Chute, chute. 



Mr. Barlow. Just for my information, how many countries are 

 we deaUng with when we are talking generically about Russia 

 here? 



Mr. Infanger. When you are talking to me about Russia, you are 

 dealing with one. 



Mr. Barlow. Just Russia. 



Mr. Infanger. The Russian Federation. Although there are close 

 economic ties and other ties to countries like Ukraine and Belarus, 

 my perspective is only Russia, the Russian Federation. 



Mr. Barlow. How many languages are there in Russia? Is there 

 just Russian in Russia or are there other languages spoken? 



Mr. Infanger. It is my impression that Russian is the commer- 

 cial and educational language. There are lots of ethnic groups who 

 have their own language, but the common denominator for busi- 

 ness and education is Russian. 



Mr. Barlow. You have met Dr. Arnold Kerrs at Murray State 

 University. 



Mr. Infanger. I have dealings with him, sure. 



Mr. Barlow. From the areas of soil conservation, have you got- 

 ten into any of that with your "Russian counterparts? 



Mr. Infanger. Not greatly. There are lots of problems, and there 

 are groups out in the countryside coming to the Ministry for assist- 

 ance. Some of it has been directly addressed to me. My name has 

 appeared in some Russian newspapers, and people have written to 

 me saying, "You are the American adviser. Help us with these ra- 

 dioactively contaminated lands, other poisoned lands, and some 

 erosion problems." I have tried to link them with VOCA voliinteers 

 or with other programs. 



But, within the Ministry, that has not been a priority at this 

 point. 



Mr. Barlow. I am just barely aware that the Russians over time 

 have been real leaders historically in analyzing soil and soil prop- 



