On controllability of a non-homogeneous elastic string with memory

We are motivated by the problem of control for a non-homogeneous elastic string with memory. We reduce the problem of controllability to a non-standard moment problem. The solution of the latter problem is based on an auxiliary Riesz basis property result for a family of functions quadratically close to the nonharmonic exponentials. This result requires the detailed analysis of an integro-differential equation and is of interest in itself for Function Theory. Controllability of the string implies observability of a dual system.