DATE=8/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237561
TITLE=RUSSIA POLITICS (L-CQ)
BYLINE=RENE SCHNEIDER
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS DISMISSED PRIME
MINISTER SERGEI KIRIYENKO AND HIS ENTIRE CABINET, AND NAMED
FORMER PRIME MINISTER VICTOR CHERNOMYRDIN ACTING HEAD OF
GOVERNMENT. AS RENE SCHNEIDER REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, THE MOVE
COMES TWO DAYS AFTER THE PARLIAMENT STRONGLY CONDEMNED PRESIDENT
YELTSIN AND HIS GOVERNMENT FOR FAILING TO CONTAIN THE FINANCIAL
CRISIS -- AND URGED THE PRESIDENT TO STEP DOWN.
TEXT: PRESIDENT YELTSIN FIRED THE PRIME MINISTER HE APPOINTED TO
REINVIGORATE THE GOVERNMENT AND OVERSEE REFORMS LESS THAN SIX
MONTHS AGO, AND HAS NAMED THE MAN HE REPLACED AS ACTING HEAD OF
GOVERNMENT.
MR. YELTSIN GAVE NO EXPLANATION FOR THE FIRINGS. BUT HE AND
HIS GOVERNMENT HAVE COME UNDER INCREASING CRITICISM IN RECENT
WEEKS FOR THEIR HANDLING OF THE RUSSIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS.
THE DUMA, OR LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT, OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED A
NON-BINDING RESOLUTION FRIDAY CALLING FOR PRESIDENT YELTSIN'S
RESIGNATION. IT WAS EXPECTED TO INTRODUCE A NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE
LATER THIS WEEK.
HOUSE SPEAKER GENNADY SELEZNYOV, A COMMUNIST, WAS QUOTED BY
RUSSIAN NEWS AGENCIES AS SAYING HE WELCOMED THE DECISION TO FIRE
MR. KIRIYENKO, WHO TOOK OFFICE LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AGO. HIS
GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN STRUGGLING TO SHORE UP THE FALTERING ECONOMY.
FALLING WORLD PRICES FOR OIL, RUSSIA'S MAIN EXPORT, AND
AFTERSHOCKS OF THE ASIAN ECONOMIC CRISIS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY SENT
THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMY INTO DECLINE.
MANY ANALYSTS HAD VIEWED THE STABILITY OF THE RUSSIAN CURRENCY AS
ONE OF RUSSIA'S FEW ECONOMIC SUCCESS STORIES. INTERNATIONAL
LENDERS WERE SATISFIED ENOUGH WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS TO
IMPLEMENT REFORMS AND LAST MONTH PROVIDED RUSSIA WITH A 23
BILLION DOLLAR LOAN DESIGNED TO SHORE UP THE RUBLE AND STRENGTHEN
THE WEAK ECONOMY.
BUT LAST WEEK, THE GOVERNMENT ADMITTED DEFEAT AND REVERSED
MONETARY POLICY, IN EFFECT DEVALUING THE RUBLE -- A MOVE
PRESIDENT YELTSIN HAD SWORN AGAINST A FEW DAYS EARLIER. THE
POLICY REVERSAL HAS EXPOSED THE COUNTRY'S CORRUPT BANKING SYSTEM
AND CAUSED PRICES OF CONSUMER GOODS TO RISE.
PRESIDENT YELTSIN IS DUE BACK IN THE KREMLIN MONDAY AFTER A
MUCH-INTERUPTED, AND OFTEN CRITICIZED FIVE WEEK VACATION. HE
WILL FACE THE MONUMENTAL TASK OF TRYING TO RESTORE DOMESTIC AND
INTERNATIONAL FAITH IN HIS COUNTRY'S ECONOMY. IT IS NOT CLEAR
WHETHER MR. YELTSIN PLANS TO CONTINUE ON THE ECONOMIC PATH LAID
OUT BY THE NOW DEFUNCT GOVERNMENT, OR IF HE WILL SEEK TO REVERSE
COURSE AND APPEASE HIS OPPONENTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/RS/MMK
23-Aug-98 8:22 PM EDT (0022 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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