DATE=5/28/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232950
TITLE=RUSSIA CRISIS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=BARRY WOOD
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TWO AMERICAN EXPERTS ON RUSSIA THURSDAY VOICED STRONG
CRITICISM OF U-S POLICY TOWARDS RUSSIA. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD
REPORTS THAT SUSAN EISENHOWER, THE GRAND DAUGHTER OF DWIGHT
EISENHOWER, AND CHARLES MAYNES BELIEVE THE UNITED STATES SHOULD
DO MORE TO BOLSTER REFORM IN RUSSIA.
TEXT: SUSAN EISENHOWER SAYS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SHOULD DO
MORE TO OVERCOME RUSSIA'S GROWING SENSE OF ISOLATION. SHE
SUGGESTS THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON SHOULD TRAVEL FROM CHINA NEXT
MONTH DIRECTLY TO MOSCOW IN ORDER TO UNDERSCORE U-S SUPPORT FOR
RUSSIAN DEMOCRACY AND EFFORTS TO BUILD A MARKET ECONOMY.
A SCHOLAR AND CONSULTANT TO AMERICAN COMPANIES DOING BUSINESS IN
RUSSIA, MS. EISENHOWER IS A STRONG OPPONENT OF NATO EXPANSION.
SHE BELIEVES THAT RUSSIA FACES A MOUNTING CRISIS OF ECONOMIC
CONFIDENCE. SHE BELIEVES THE WEST SHOULD BE HELPFUL IN PROVIDING
ASSISTANCE BUT SHE STOPPED SHORT OF CALLING FOR NEW U-S LOANS TO
RUSSIA.
CHARLES MAYNES, THE PRESIDENT OF THE EURASIA FOUNDATION AND
FORMER EDITOR OF FOREIGN POLICY MAGAZINE, SAYS RUSSIA IS NOW AT
THE FRONT LINE IN THE GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST FINANCIAL TURMOIL. HE
AGREES THAT RUSSIA IS UNDERGOING A CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE AS IT
EMERGES AS A GREATLY WEAKENED COUNTRY INTO A COMPETITIVE GLOBAL
ECONOMY. MR. MAYNES, A STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL 20 YEARS AGO,
FAULTS U-S POLICY FOR FAILING TO EVOLVE FROM ITS COLD WAR FOCUS
ON EUROPE AND HOSTILITY TO AN EXPANSIONIST RUSSIA.
HE ARGUES THAT RUSSIA IS NOW MORE PRO-WESTERN, DEMOCRATIC, AND
PEACEFUL THAN AT ANY TIME IN ITS HISTORY. HE BELIEVES THE U-S
PARADIGM SHIFT REQUIRES A SHIFT OF ATTENTION TO CENTRAL AND SOUTH
ASIA AND THE INCOME DISPARITIES OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY. MR. MAYNES
ALSO OPPOSES NATO EXPANSION AS A NEEDLESS ACT WHICH HE REGARDS AS
A SLAP IN THE FACE OF THE RUSSIAN REFORMERS.
BOTH SPEAKERS AT "THE FORUM ON RUSSIAN POLITICS AND ECONOMY"
BELIEVE THE CURRENT FINANCIAL CRISIS IN MOSCOW WILL LAST FOR LONG
TIME. THEY ARE OF MIXED OPINION AS TO WHETHER THE INTERNATIONAL
MONETARY FUND SHOULD BOOST ITS RUSSIAN LENDING. MR. MAYNES
BELIEVES THE I-M-F IS PLAYING A VALUABLE ROLE AND SHOULD BE
STRENGTHENED.
THE TWO SPEAKERS REGARD THE RUSSIAN PRIVATIZATION AS INEQUITABLE
WHICH DID NOTHING TO WIN PUBLIC BACKING FOR A MARKET ECONOMY.
MR. MAYNES SAYS A WEAK RUSSIA WITH ALL ITS NUCLEAR WEAPONS--AS IT
IS NOW--IS A GREATER THREAT TO THE WEST THAN A STRONG RUSSIA.
(SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/PT
28-May-98 4:20 PM EDT (2020 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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