Turkey has told China that it will only allow the ex-Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag to transit the Bosphorus and Dardanelles if China meets 20 safety requirements, hires seven tugboats to control the ship (which has no engines or rudders), installs generators and communications equipment, and posts a $1 billion letter of guarantee to cover the cost of any environmental or physical damage resulting from the ship's passage.--Stephen V Cole
