28 August 1998
CLINTON TO URGE RUSSIA TO "MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES"
(Will discuss how Russia can restore market confidence) (830) By Louise Fenner USIA Staff Writer Washington -- National Security Adviser Sandy Berger said President Clinton, during his visit to Moscow September 1-2, will reassure the Russians that the West is "ready and prepared to be of help if they make the right choices" about their political and economic future, and will urge President Boris Yeltsin and his government to stay on the path of democracy and economic reform. "The Russian people should know that, particularly in times of difficulty, the United States and the West will not turn away from cooperation," Berger said at an August 28 news briefing on the President's upcoming trip to Russia, Northern Ireland and Ireland. "As they do the things necessary to restore stability and progress, we are prepared to support them. I believe that alone will have some stabilizing effect for the Russian people," Berger said. The United States "has a strong interest in preventing Russia from backsliding and in promoting its stability and success. At this point we can best do that not by backing away, but by trying to help Russians find Russian solutions to their domestic problems that are compatible with a global economy and consistent with their choice of democracy," he added. President Clinton believes it is important to go to Moscow despite the current situation there "so that he can be with President Yeltsin and, with others, speak candidly about what we believe will be necessary to stabilize the situation economically and to continue on the path of political reform," Berger said. Asked about Russia's recent political and economic upheaval, Berger said that "what is important here is what policies are adopted by the new government and whether they are realistic in terms of the situation that Russia faces, whether they are likely to stabilize the situation, whether they are likely to bring investor confidence back. And I think the policies here are far more important than who may be the individuals that are in the government." He noted that a number of foreign policy and security issues will also be discussed at the summit between Clinton and Yeltsin, including Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Iran, non-proliferation, terrorism, and steps to reduce the risk from military arsenals left over from the Cold War, Also briefing was Deputy Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, who stressed that the choices Russia makes in the next few weeks and months "will be crucial in determining its economic future." Asked if there is a global economic crisis, Summers said it is important to "distinguish between situations in different countries" and that investors should "not generalize inappropriately." In addition to Russia's economic problems, "there has been a reduced appetite for risk-taking on the part of investors in emerging markets globally," Summers noted. But Treasury Secretary James Rubin, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and other U.S. officials "continue to be in touch with our counterparts in other countries and in the international financial institutions and are prepared to support strong measures, working through the international financial institutions where appropriate, to encourage appropriate policy steps in particular countries," the Deputy Treasury Secretary said. Summers pressed the Congress to fund the U.S. contribution to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) "in order that it can be securely in a position to meet whatever challenges may arise." On a potential renegotiation between Russia and the IMF, Summers said that because of "very profound problems that have ... surfaced in the banking system in the last several weeks ... you're in a very different economic situation than contemplated in the IMF agreement that was reached. And so, clearly, for Russia to go forward with the IMF would require a new set of understandings appropriate to current circumstances about Russian policy actions." He added, "With such policy actions and commitments on the Russian part ... we would continue to be prepared to support IMF and other international financial institution engagement in Russia. But at this point, the emphasis and the priority has to be attached to the policy choices that Russia makes." Deputy National Security Adviser Jim Steinberg said President Clinton is visiting Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland "to pay tribute to the courage and the determination of both the leaders and the people in Northern Ireland and in the Republic for making the Good Friday peace agreement possible," and to demonstrate the continuing support of the United States for the peace process and economic development in both countries. One of the president's stops will be Omagh, Northern Ireland, the site of a car bomb attack that killed 28 people and wounded more than 200. The visit is "both to show his sympathy for the people there, but also to really pay tribute to the remarkable effort they've gone about pulling together and showing that they are not going to be deterred by the enemies of peace," Steinberg said.
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