DATE= DECEMBER 3, 1997
TYPE= EDITORIAL
NUMBER= 0-07552
TITLE= EDITORIAL: COLLINS ON U.S.-RUSSIAN RELATIONS
CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST
DECEMBER 3, 1997.
ANNCR:
THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE
VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
VOICE:
AT HIS FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE WITH THE RUSSIAN MEDIA, JAMES
COLLINS, THE NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA, SAID "THE
FUNDAMENTALS OF THE UNITED STATES-RUSSIA RELATIONSHIP ARE VERY
SOUND." THOSE RELATIONS ARE BASED ON A MUTUALLY SHARED
COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY, A MARKET ECONOMY AND HUMAN RIGHTS. AS
NUCLEAR SUPERPOWERS, BOTH NATIONS ALSO SHARE A RESPONSIBILITY FOR
WORLD PEACE.
BOTH COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN COOPERATING TO DEVELOP A MORE SECURE
SYSTEM OF CONTROL OVER NUCLEAR WEAPONS. A REDUCTION IN THE
NUMBER OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS IS ALSO ESSENTIAL. THE REDUCTIONS
AGREED TO IN THE START TWO TREATY ARE IN BOTH AMERICA'S AND
RUSSIA'S INTERESTS. THE U.S. HOPES THAT RUSSIA WILL RATIFY THE
TREATY SOON.
THE U.S. IS ALSO SEEKING RUSSIA'S FULL INTEGRATION INTO THE
COMMUNITY OF MARKET ECONOMIES. BUT THERE IS CLEARLY A NEED FOR
GREATER TRANSPARENCY, PREDICTABILITY AND STABILITY IN THE LEGAL
FRAMEWORK UNDER WHICH RUSSIAN BUSINESSES OPERATE. THE UNITED
STATES URGES THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF
CORRUPTION AT ALL LEVELS, AND TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF GOVERNMENT
INVOLVEMENT IN THE ECONOMY AS ONE MEANS OF CONTROLLING
CORRUPTION. A FAIR AND EFFECTIVE TAX CODE IS ESSENTIAL TO THIS
PROCESS.
IN REGARD TO HUMAN RIGHTS, AMBASSADOR COLLINS SAID THAT THERE
HAS BEEN NO GREATER ACHIEVEMENT FOR RUSSIAN DEMOCRACY THAN THE
FREEDOM OF WORSHIP THAT EMERGED FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE OF THE
SOVIET REGIME. HE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT RUSSIA'S NEW RELIGION
LAW MAY BE IMPLEMENTED IN A WAY THAT DIMINISHES FREEDOM OF
RELIGION. AND THERE IS NO FREEDOM MORE FUNDAMENTAL THAN
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. THE U.S. WILL CERTAINLY SPEAK OUT IF THERE IS
RENEWED RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN RUSSIA.
THE UNITED STATES HAS A HUGE STAKE IN RUSSIA'S FUTURE. THAT
IS WHY THE U.S. IS WORKING TO CREATE RELATIONSHIPS AND DEVISE
INCENTIVES THAT WILL ENCOURAGE RUSSIA TO CONTINUE ITS DEMOCRATIC
PROGRESS AND CREATE PROSPERITY FOR THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE.
ANNCR:
THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE,
PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C,
20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043.
YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.
02-Dec-97 2:23 PM EST (1923 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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