DATE=12/3/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-223602
TITLE=RUSSIA / MILITARY (L)
BYLINE=MICHELE KELEMEN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN SAYS HIS COUNTRY IS
READY TO CUT GROUND AND NAVAL FORCES BY 40 PERCENT. V-O-A'S
MICHELE KELEMEN IN MOSCOW REPORTS THIS WAS MR. YELTSIN'S SECOND
STARTLING ANNOUNCEMENT DURING HIS VISIT TO SWEDEN. AND THE
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT'S AIDES HAVE BEEN BUSY EXPLAINING WHAT HE
MEANT.
TEXT: PRESIDENT YELTSIN SEEMS TO BE FULL OF SURPRISES ON HIS
VISIT TO SWEDEN. DURING HIS SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT IN STOCKHOLM
WEDNESDAY, HE ANNOUNCED RUSSIA WILL UNILATERALLY REDUCE ITS LAND
AND NAVAL FORCES BY 40 PERCENT IN 1999 MAINLY IN THE NORTHWESTERN
REGION OF RUSSIA. HE SAID IT WILL BE DIFFICULT AND THERE MAY BE
PROBLEMS BUT RUSSIA WILL SOLVE THEM.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT DREW BIG APPLAUSE IN PARLIAMENT. REUTER NEWS
AGENCY REPORTS RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV LATER
EXPLAINED THE 40 PERCENT TROOP CUT PROPOSAL WILL BE LIMITED TO
THE NORTHWESTERN REGION OF RUSSIA.
THE PROPOSAL APPEARS TO BE AIMED AT REDUCING TENSIONS BETWEEN
RUSSIA AND THE BALTIC COUNTRIES. RUSSIA HAS OFFERED SECURITY
GUARANTEES TO LITHUANIA, LATVIA AND ESTONIA IF THEY STAY OUT OF
NATO, BUT ALL THREE HAVE REJECTED THE OFFER.
IN HIS SPEECH WEDNESDAY, PRESIDENT YELTSIN APPEALED FOR WHAT HE
CALLS A NEW REGIME OF TRUST IN THE BALTIC REGION. HE SUGGESTED
SETTING UP MILITARY HOTLINES AND HOLDING JOINT EXERCISES.
THE COMMENTS COME ONE DAY AFTER ANOTHER SURPRISING INITIATIVE
FROM THE RUSSIAN LEADER. DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE TUESDAY,
PRESIDENT YELTSIN SAID RUSSIA IS READY TO REDUCE ITS NUCLEAR
ARSENAL BY ONE-THIRD.
BUT, A KREMLIN SPOKESMAN DOWNPLAYED THE APPARENTLY IMPROMPTU
REMARKS, SAYING IT IS AN IDEA, BUT IT IS NOT YET ON THE
NEGOTIATING TABLE. HE SAID THE RUSSIAN LEADER WAS TIRED WHEN HE
MADE THE STATEMENT.
FOREIGN MINISTER PRIMAKOV ADDED THE RUSSIAN LEADER WAS ONLY
REITERATING RUSSIA'S DESIRE TO AGREE WITH THE UNITED STATES ON
MORE CUTS IN NUCLEAR WEAPONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/MLK/JWH
03-Dec-97 10:35 AM EST (1535 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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