DATE=5/18/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249505
TITLE=RUSSIA / YELTSIN (L UPDATE)
BYLINE=CHALLISS MCDONOUGH
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THERE ARE NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HEALTH OF RUSSIAN
PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN AFTER HE APPARENTLY CANCELED A MEETING
TUESDAY WITH THE VISITING PRIME MINISTER OF SPAIN. SPANISH
DIPLOMATS SAYS THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT HAS BRONCHITIS. BUT V-O-A'S
CHALLISS MCDONOUGH IN MOSCOW REPORTS THE KREMLIN DENIES MR.
YELTSIN IS ILL.
TEXT: AS RECENTLY AS MONDAY, MR. YELTSIN'S PUBLISHED SCHEDULE
SAID HE WOULD MEET WITH SPANISH PRIME MINISTER JOSE MARIA AZNAR
IN THE KREMLIN ON TUESDAY. BUT HIS AIDES NOW SAY NO SUCH
MEETING WAS PLANNED.
MR. YELTSIN HAS INSTEAD HELD WHAT THE KREMLIN CALLS A
"SUBSTANTIVE CONVERSATION" WITH MR. AZNAR OVER THE TELEPHONE FROM
HIS COUNTRY HOUSE. THE RUSSIAN LEADER HAS ALSO MET THERE -- IN
PERSON -- WITH HIS CHIEF OF STAFF, ALEXANDER VOLOSHIN.
THE ABRUPT CHANGE IN PLANS COMES AFTER MR. YELTSIN MET WITH HIS
DOCTOR ON SATURDAY. THE KREMLIN CALLED IT A ROUTINE MEDICAL
CHECKUP, DESPITE THE UNUSUAL TIMING.
/// OPT /// THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT HAS HAD A LONG HISTORY OF
HEALTH PROBLEMS, INCLUDING SEVERAL HEART ATTACKS. HE RECENTLY
REAPPEARED IN THE KREMLIN AFTER SPENDING MONTHS OUT OF THE
OFFICE, RECOVERING FROM A STOMACH ULCER. /// END OPT ///
A PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN ON TUESDAY SAID MR. YELTSIN'S HEALTH IS
"O-K" AND HE IS IN A "CHEERFUL" MOOD.
BUT THE INCIDENT HAS RAISED NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S
CONDITION AND HIS ABILITY TO GOVERN -- JUST AS PARLIAMENT IS
PREPARING TO VOTE WEDNESDAY ON HIS CHOICE FOR RUSSIA'S NEW PRIME
MINISTER.
THE CANDIDATE -- SERGEI STEPASHIN -- IS CURRENTLY SERVING AS
ACTING PRIME MINISTER.
THE SECOND-IN-COMMAND IS SUPPOSED TO ASSUME LEADERSHIP OF RUSSIA
IF THE PRESIDENT IS INCAPACITATED. BUT IT IS NOT CLEAR IF AN
ACTING PRIME MINISTER CAN DO THAT.
NEB/CEM/JWH
18-May-99 7:16 AM EDT (1116 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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