DATE=9/2/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238040
TITLE=CLINTON RUSSIA WRAP (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAVE
WRAPPED UP A MOSCOW SUMMIT DOMINATED BY DISCUSSION OF RUSSIA'S
ECONOMIC CRISIS. MR. CLINTON ALSO MET WITH SOME OF MR. YELTSIN'S
MOST PROMINENT OPPONENTS. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE
RUSSIAN CAPITAL.
TEXT: THE PRESIDENT HAD SAID IT WAS NOT FOR THE UNITED STATES TO
PRESCRIBE A SOLUTION TO RUSSIA'S ECONOMIC DILEMMA. BUT IN EVERY
APPEARANCE HE MADE IN THE TWO-DAY MOSCOW VISIT, HE STRESSED HIS
SUPPORT FOR THE REFORM PROCESS BEGUN BY PRESIDENT YELTSIN AND THE
DANGER OF A REVERSION TO SOVIET STYLE COMMAND ECONOMICS.
AT A JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE THAT CAPPED THE SUMMIT, MR. CLINTON
HELD OUT THE PROSPECT OF MORE WESTERN HELP IF RUSSIA STAYS THE
COURSE ON MARKET REFORM:
///CLINTON ACTUALITY///
IF THE REFORM PROCESS CAN BE COMPLETED, THEN I FOR ONE
WOULD BE STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF GREATER ASSISTANCE TO
RUSSIA FROM THE UNITED STATES AND THE OTHER BIG ECONOMIC
POWERS. BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE A VERY STRONG VESTED
INTEREST IN SEEING AN ECONOMICALLY-SUCCESSFUL RUSSIA
THAT IS A FULL PARTNER ACROSS THE WHOLE RANGE OF ISSUES
IN THE WORLD. I ALSO THINK IT'S GOOD FOR PRESERVING
RUSSIA'S DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM.
/// END ACT///
PRESIDENT YELTSIN FOR HIS PART SAID FINANCIAL HELP FROM THE WEST
WAS LESS IMPORTANT THAN A RESTORATION OF CONFIDENCE IN THE
RUSSIAN ECONOMY THAT WOULD HELP LURE BACK SHAKEN FOREIGN
INVESTORS:
/// YELTSIN ACTUALITY///
WE NEED FROM THE UNITED STATES POLITICAL SUPPORT SO THAT
THE UNITED STATES IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE REFORMS IN
RUSSIA. THIS IS WHAT WE NEED. ONCE THIS IS IN PLACE, ALL
OF THE INVESTORS WHO ARE ARE WILLING TO COME TO REFORMED
RUSSIA, THEY WILL COME WITH THEIR INVESTMENTS.
//END ACT///
MR. CLINTON FOLLOWED UP THE SUMMIT WITH AN UNUSUAL MEETING WITH
LEADERS OF MAJOR RUSSIAN PARLIAMENTARY FACTIONS, INCLUDING
COMMUNIST PARTY CHIEF GENNADY ZHUGANOV -- WHO HAS LED OPPOSITION
TO PRESIDENT YELTSIN'S EFFORT TO RESTORE VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN AS
PRIME MINISTER.
IN IMPLICIT REFERENCE TO COMMUNIST DEMANDS FOR A RETURN TO
CENTRALIZED ECONOMIC CONTROLS, HE SAID HE IS UNAWARE OF ANY
COUNTRY THAT HAS IGNORED THE GROUND RULES OF THE NEW GLOBAL
ECONOMY AND STILL BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
THOUGH THE RUSSIAN POLITICAL STALEMATE HAS BLOCKED ACTION ON THE
START-TWO ARMS REDUCTION TREATY, THE TWO PRESIDENTS SIGNED
EXECUTIVE AGREEMENTS TO ADVANCE ARMS CONTROL ON OTHER FRONTS --
BY AGREEING TO DRASTICALLY CUT STOCKPILES OF PLUTONIUM AND
INCREASING EXCHANGES EARLY WARNING DATA TO LESSEN THE RISK OF
ACCIDENTAL WAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/GE
02-Sep-98 11:21 AM EDT (1521 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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