DATE=4/13/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248000
TITLE=RUSSIA / YELTSIN (L ONLY)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS RIDICULED PARLIAMENT
FOR POSTPONING A VOTE ON WHETHER TO IMPEACH HIM. V-O-A'S PETER
HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW REPORTS THAT, AS THE NEXT ELECTIONS , TIME FOR
THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS IS FAST RUNNING OUT.
TEXT: PRESIDENT YELTSIN TAUNTED LAWMAKERS TUESDAY AFTER THEY
BACKED AWAY FROM A THREATENED IMPEACHMENT VOTE. COMMUNIST LEADER
GENNADY ZYUGANOV HAD TRIED TO CAST THE DELAY AS AN ATTEMPT TO
GIVE ALL SIDES A CHANCE TO SUBMIT EVIDENCE ON THE CHARGES BROUGHT
AGAINST THE PRESIDENT.
BUT A CONFIDENT MR. YELTSIN -- KNOWING IMPEACHMENT IS ONLY A
REMOTE POSSIBILITY -- WAS QUOTED AS SAYING "THE LAWMAKERS KEEP
POSTPONING THE VOTE, LOOKING FOR A MORE CONVENIENT TIME TO HOOK
THE PRESIDENT. THEY WILL NOT SUCCEED."
DUMA LEADERS HAVE BEEN BRANDISHING THE IMPEACHMENT THREAT FOR
MONTHS, USING IT WHEN THEY NEED A BARGAINING CHIP IN THEIR
BATTLES WITH THE PRESIDENT. IT HAS BEEN MENTIONED PROMINENTLY OF
LATE, AS HARDLINE LAWMAKERS TRY TO PUSH MR.YELTSIN TO TAKE A
TOUGHER LINE AGAINST NATO AIRSTRIKES ON YUGOSLAVIA.
THE PRESSURE WAS EVIDENT LAST WEEK, WHEN THE HOUSE SPEAKER,
COMMUNIST GENNADY SELEZNYOV TOLD REPORTERS MR. YELTSIN HAD AGREED
TO RETARGET MISSILES AT NATO CAPITALS, AND HAD TAKEN ACTION TO
CLEAR THE WAY FOR SENDING RUSSIAN TROOPS TO THE BALKANS.
THE KREMLIN QUICKLY DENIED THE REPORTS, BUT NOT UNTIL AFTER THE
NEWS SET OFF ALARM BELLS IN WESTERN CAPITALS.
TUESDAY, 17 INFLUENTIAL REGIONAL LEADERS -- MEMBERS OF THE UPPER
HOUSE -- ISSUED A STATEMENT CALLING ON THE DUMA TO DROP THE
IMPEACHMENT MOTION. YURI LUZHKOV, THE POWERFUL MAYOR OF MOSCOW,
SAYS WITH ELECTIONS ON THE HORIZON, IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON.
/// LUZHKOV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///
HE SAYS "IMPEACHMENT IS A PURELY POLITICAL PROCESS. THE DUMA
NEEDS IT TO SHOW THEY ARE WORKING, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT HAS
NOT BEEN OBVIOUS SO FAR." THE MAYOR SAID THAT, WITH ELECTIONS
COMING, LAWMAKERS ARE TRYING TO DEMONSTRATE TO VOTERS THAT THEY
ARE SOLVING IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING THE NATION.
IN A RELATED DEVELOPMENT, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CENTRAL ELECTION
COMMISSION SAID TUESDAY THAT ELECTIONS FOR THE LOWER HOUSE WILL
PROBABLY BE HELD DECEMBER 19TH.
MR. YELTSIN WAS QUOTED AS SAYING HE HOPES THE NEXT DUMA WILL BE
LESS POLITICIZED THAN THE CURRENT BODY. NEWS AGENCIES QUOTED THE
RUSSIAN LEADER AS SAYING "I WANT THE DUMA TO SPEND MORE TIME ON
LAWMAKING. NOW THEY SPEND 60 PERCENT OF THEIR TIME IN POLITICAL
BATTLES." (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/JWH
13-Apr-99 7:18 AM EDT (1118 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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