DATE=3/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228594
TITLE=CONGRESS-YELTSIN (L)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NEWS OF THE GOVERNMENT SHAKE-UP IN MOSCOW TOOK MEMBERS OF
THE U-S CONGRESS BY SURPRISE. CONGRESSMAN PORTER GOSS -- THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE -- WAS ONE OF THE
FIRST TO GET A HIGH-LEVEL BRIEFING (FYI -- THIS WAS A
CLOSED-DOOR BRIEFING AND HE WOULD NOT PROVIDE SPECIFICS). MR.
GOSS SAYS IT MAY TAKE SOME TIME TO GAUGE THE FULL IMPACT OF
PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S DECISION TO OUST HIS CABINET. WE HAVE
MORE FROM V-O-A CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT PAULA WOLFSON.
TEXT: CONGRESSMAN GOSS SAYS HE BELIEVES THE REFORM PROCESS IN
RUSSIA IS IRREVERSIBLE. BUT HE ADMITS THE CABINET SHAKE-UP HAS
CREATED A BIT OF UNEASE IN WASHINGTON.
///GOSS ACT///
SO FAR, I THINK THINGS ARE MANAGEABLE AND UNDER CONTROL
(IN MOSCOW). AND I THINK THERE WILL BE A LOT OF SETTLING
ON THIS (MOVEMENT AS THINGS SORT OUT). IT WILL GO ON
FOR SOME TIME. I BELIEVE WE CAN EXPECT, GIVEN THE WAY
THE PROCESS WORKS OVER THERE -- AND I ASSUME IT IS GOING
TO WORK PROPERLY -- THAT THEY WILL WORK OUT A
REASONABLE CONCLUSION TO WHERE THEY ARE. AND I BELIEVE
ONCE THAT HAPPENS, WE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE RELAXED.
///END ACT///
THE FLORIDA REPUBLICAN SAYS, FOR NOW, WASHINGTON MUST ADOPT A
WAIT AND SEE ATTITUDE.
///GOSS ACT///
I THINK THERE ARE MANY FACTIONS AND FORCES AT PLAY AND
IT BEHOOVES US TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON AND TO
MAKE SURE AS THING WORK OUT THEY WORK OUT IN A WAY THAT
IS CONSTRUCTIVE TO THE TYPE OF PROGRESS AND REFORM THAT
WE ARE ALL HOPING FOR.
///END ACT///
THE GOVERNMENT SHAKE-UP IN MOSCOW CAME DURING A RESPITE IN THE
U-S SENATE DEBATE ON NATO ENLARGEMENT. ARIEL COHEN IS A RUSSIAN
POLICY EXPERT WITH THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION -- A PRIVATE POLICY
RESEARCH GROUP IN WASHINGTON. HE SEES NO CONNECTION BETWEEN THE
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN MOSCOW, AND PLANS TO EXPAND THE WESTERN
ALLIANCE.
///COHEN ACT///
THIS IS NOT ABOUT RUSSIAN OPPOSITION TO NATO. THIS IS
NOT ABOUT NATO ENLARGEMENT. THIS IS VERY MUCH AN
INTERNAL RUSSIAN POLITICAL CRISIS. AND RUSSIA IS SO MUCH
INVOLVED WITH ITS OWN ECONOMY, ITS OWN POLITICS, THAT IT
HAS LITTLE TIME TO SPEND ON THE FUTURE OF ITS
RELATIONSHIP WITH NATO, ON ITS DECLARED OPPOSITION.
///END ACT///
MR. COHEN SAYS PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS SHOW NATO ENLARGEMENT IS
NOT A BIG ISSUE WITH THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE. HE SAYS ACCORDING TO
THESE POLLS THIRTY TO FORTY PERCENT (OF THE RUSSIANS SURVEYED)
SAY THEY JUST DON'T CARE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/WDC
23-Mar-98 3:40 PM EST (2040 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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