DATE=9/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238492
TITLE=RUSSIA POL (L)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE LOWER HOUSE OF RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT -- THE DUMA -- HAS
OVERWHELMINGLY ENDORSED THE NOMINATION OF YEVGENY PRIMAKOV AS
PRIME MINISTER. V-O-A MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT PETER HEINLEIN
REPORTS THE FORMER SPY AGENCY CHIEF CALLED ON LAWMAKERS TO UNITE
TO TACKLE RUSSIA'S FINANCIAL CRISIS.
TEXT: ALMOST ALL DUMA FACTIONS JOINED IN SUPPORTING THE PRIMAKOV
NOMINATION. THE 317 TO 63 VOTE ENDED NEARLY THREE WEEKS OF
POLITICAL PARALYSIS. ONLY THE ULTRANATIONALIST LIBERAL DEMOCRAT
PARTY VOTED "NO."
IN A SPEECH TO THE CHAMBER, MR. PRIMAKOV WARNED OF DIFFICULT
DAYS AHEAD, AND CAUTIONED LAWMAKERS THERE WOULD BE NO EASY WAY
OUT OF RUSSIA'S ECONOMIC CRISIS.
/// PRIMAKOV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///
HE SAID, "DO NOT EXPECT QUICK RESULTS FROM ME. I AM NOT A
MAGICIAN. THE COUNTRY IS IN A SERIOUS STATE." BUT HE SAID
URGENT MEASURES ARE NEEDED TO PREVENT THE BREAKUP OF THE RUSSIAN
FEDERATION.
/// 2ND PRIMAKOV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///
HE SAID, "WE FACE A REAL DANGER OF SEEING RUSSIA DIVIDED."
IT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY CLEAR WHAT ECONOMIC COURSE HE MIGHT
FOLLOW. HE SAID WAS NAMING FORMER SOVIET ECONOMIC PLANNING CHIEF
YURI MASLYUKOV AS FIRST DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER. BUT AT THE SAME
TIME, HE PLEDGED TO PURSUE REFORMS.
/// 3RD PRIMAKOV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///
HE SAID, "REFORMS ARE NEEDED. THE PRESENT SITUATION CANNOT BE
OVERCOME WITHOUT THEM."
HE ALSO SAID THE STATE MUST REGULATE AND INTERVENE WHERE
NECESSARY TO DEFEND DOMESTIC PRODUCERS AT A TIME OF ECONOMIC
TURMOIL. BUT THEN ADDED "THIS IS NOT A RETURN TO THE COMMAND
SYSTEM."
/// OPT /// ON FOREIGN POLICY, THE FORMER SPY AGENCY CHIEF
PLEDGED TO STRICTLY DEFEND RUSSIA'S INTEREST. BUT HE SAID HE
WOULD WORK TO AVOID CONFRONTATION WITH THE WEST.
/// OPT // 4TH PRIMAKOV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///
/// OPT /// HE SAID, "WE DON'T NEED CONFRONTATION. THERE WILL
BE NO RETURN TO THE COLD WAR."
/// OPT /// MR. PRIMAKOV TOLD LAWMAKERS HE FAVORED
RATIFICATION OF THE START-TWO ARMS TREATY, BUT INDICATED HE WOULD
NOT PUSH THE ISSUE. THE DUMA HAS FAILED TO ACT ON THE ACCORD.
/// OPT /// HE LATER NAMED HIS DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR
IVANOV TO SUCCEED HIM AS RUSSIA'S TOP DIPLOMAT. HE ALSO
IMMEDIATELY ANNOUNCED THAT DEFENSE MINISTER IGOR SERGEYEV AND
INTERIOR MINISTER SERGEI STEPASHIN WOULD BE RETAINED IN THEIR
POSTS. /// END OPT ///
MR. PRIMAKOV'S CONFIRMATION ENDS A STANDOFF THAT BEGAN AUGUST
23RD WHEN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN DISMISSED FORMER PRIME
MINISTER SERGEI KIRIYENKO AND BROUGHT BACK VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN.
BUT MR. CHERNOMYRDIN WITHDREW AFTER THE DUMA TWICE RESOUNDING
REJECTED HIM, AND FOREIGN MINISTER PRIMAKOV WAS NAMED AS A
COMPROMISE.
THE COMPROMISE WAS A HARSH POLITICAL BLOW TO MR. YELTSIN, WHO
HAS BEEN BADLY WEAKENED BY HIS CONFRONTATION WITH LAWMAKERS.
IN A TELEVISED SPEECH TO THE NATION FRIDAY, THE RUSSIAN LEADER
ISSUED A PLEA FOR NATIONAL UNITY. HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S CHIEF
TASKS WILL BE TO BRING DOWN SOARING PRICES, RESTORE GOODS TO
EMPTY STORE SHELVES, AND STABILIZE THE COUNTRY'S BANKING SYSTEM.
(SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/JWH/JO
11-Sep-98 1:55 PM EDT (1755 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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