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DATE=5/17/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249468
TITLE=RUSSIA POL (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=CHALLISS MCDONOUGH
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THINGS ARE LOOKING UP (BETTER) FOR RUSSIAN PRESIDENT 
BORIS YELTSIN.  THERE WAS A HUGE OUTCRY LAST WEEK WHEN MR. 
YELTSIN FIRED HIS POPULAR PRIME MINISTER, YEVGENY PRIMAKOV, ON 
THE EVE OF AN IMPEACHMENT VOTE IN PARLIAMENT.  BUT AS V-O-A'S 
CHALLISS MCDONOUGH REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, LAWMAKERS ARE NOW SHOWING
SIGNS THEY ARE LIKELY TO APPROVE MR. YELTSIN'S CHOICE FOR MR. 
PRIMAKOV'S REPLACEMENT.
TEXT:  ONE BY ONE, FACTIONS IN THE RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT ARE SAYING 
THEY WILL SUPPORT THE CANDIDACY OF ACTING PRIME MINISTER SERGEI 
STEPASHIN.
EVEN THE COMMUNISTS -- WHO JUST SATURDAY LOST THEIR BID TO 
IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT -- SAY THEY ARE ADOPTING A WAIT-AND-SEE 
POLICY.  COMMUNIST LEADER GENNADY ZYUGANOV SAYS HIS PARTY'S 
MEMBERS WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO SUPPORT MR. STEPASHIN AFTER HE 
MEETS WITH THEM TUESDAY.
   //  ZYUGANOV ACT IN RUSSIAN -- ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER //
MR. ZYUGANOV SAYS THE ISSUE IS  NOT  MR. STEPASHIN, BUT THE 
POLICIES HE WILL FOLLOW AND WHETHER HE WILL CONTRIBUTE TO 
RUSSIA'S STABILITY.
THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER HAS BEEN CAMPAIGNING HEAVILY FOR 
SUPPORT IN PARLIAMENT.   ON MONDAY, HE SPOKE TO THE UPPER HOUSE, 
OR FEDERATION COUNCIL -- A GROUP COMPOSED OF REGIONAL GOVERNORS. 
THE FEDERATION COUNCIL HAS  NO  SAY IN MR. STEPASHIN'S APPROVAL, 
BUT HIS REMARKS THERE WERE CLOSELY MONITORED BY LAWMAKERS FROM 
THE LOWER HOUSE, OR DUMA. 
MR. STEPASHIN HAS PRAISED THE GOVERNMENT OF YEVGENY PRIMAKOV. HE 
HAS PROMISED TO FOLLOW MOST OF THE SAME POLICIES AND TO KEEP MANY
OF MR. PRIMAKOV'S DEPUTIES IN THEIR POSTS.
BUT THE CANDIDATE TOLD THE FEDERATION COUNCIL THAT RUSSIA'S 
ECONOMIC CRISIS REQUIRES MORE AGGRESSIVE ACTION.
           // STEPASHIN ACT IN RUSSIAN, FADE UNDER //
HE SAYS "THE FORMER GOVERNMENT DID  NOT  ALLOW THE CRISIS TO TEAR
RUSSIA APART, BUT NOW WE MUST GO ON THE OFFENSIVE."  HE SAYS "WE 
DO  NOT  HAVE TIME TO RELAX."
SUPPORT FOR MR. STEPASHIN BEGAN TO GROW AFTER LAWMAKERS IN THE 
DUMA ON SATURDAY FAILED TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT YELTSIN, DESPITE 
THEIR RAGE OVER THE FIRING OF MR. PRIMAKOV.
MANY LAWMAKERS SAY THEY FEAR EITHER IMPEACHING THE PRESIDENT OR  
REJECTING HIS CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER MAY DESTABILIZE 
RUSSIA.
IF THE DUMA DOES NOT APPROVE OF MR. STEPASHIN AFTER THREE VOTES, 
MR. YELTSIN CAN DISSOLVE THE ASSEMBLY AND CALL NEW ELECTIONS.
BUT PRESIDENT YELTSIN'S REPRESENTATIVE IN THE DUMA, ALEXANDER 
KOTENKOV, SAYS HE THINKS MR. STEPASHIN IS ALMOST CERTAIN TO WIN 
APPROVAL ON THE FIRST VOTE.
   //  KOTENKOV ACT IN RUSSIAN -- ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER // 
HE SAYS HE DOES NOT WANT TO MAKE ANY FIRM PREDICTIONS, BUT THERE 
IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE THE DUMA WILL APPROVE.  HE SAYS "NOBODY 
WANTS TO SHAKE THINGS UP."
THE DUMA IS SCHEDULED TO VOTE ON MR. STEPASHIN'S CANDIDACY 
WEDNESDAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/CEM/PCF
17-May-99 11:36 AM EDT (1536 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.