DATE=8/9/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA POL (L UPDAT)
NUMBER=2-252614
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian President Boris Yeltsin has fired his
prime minister and replaced him with the head of the
country's main intelligence service. Correspondent
Peter Heinlein in Moscow reports the newly-named prime
minister is also being touted as Mr. Yeltsin's choice
to be the next president.
TEXT: The unpredictable Russian leader called Prime
Minister Sergei Stepashin to the Kremlin (early
Monday), thanked him for his three-months loyal
service, and fired him. It was the fourth time in 18-
months Mr. Yeltsin had dismissed the government.
A stunned Mr. Stepashin emerged from the meeting and
walked into a cabinet session, where on live national
television he announced his dismissal. But in an
emotional speech tinged with bitterness, the sacked
Prime Minister pledged loyalty to the man who had just
fired him.
/// STEPASHIN ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE
UNDER ///
He says -- I told the president I have always been
with him, and will remain with him to the end.
A short time later, Mr. Yeltsin took to the airwaves,
announcing he had chosen 46-year old Vladimir Putin to
be the next Prime Minister. The former K-G-B spy is
currently the head of the Federal Security Service,
the K-G-B's main successor agency.
But in a surprise move, President Yeltsin went a step
further, effectively anointing Mr. Putin as his choice
to be Russia's next president.
/// YELTSIN ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER
///
He says -- I am confident in Mr. Putin. But I want
everybody to have confidence in him, especially those
who go to the polls in July, 2000 to choose a
president.
At the same time, Mr. Yeltsin announced he has set
December 19th (1999) as the date for parliamentary
elections. That vote will be an important indicator
of public mood ahead of the presidential election
seven months later.
/// OPT /// Reaction to Mr. Putin's appointment
ranged from shock to disbelief. Former First Deputy
Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov called it -- madness.
Communist Party chief Gennady Zyuganov, who will have
an important say in whether Mr. Putin's nomination is
endorsed by parliament, said he saw no difference
between the newly named prime minister and his
predecessor.
/// OPT // ZYUGANOV ACT - IN RUSSIAN -
FADE UNDER ///
/// OPT /// He says -- they are part of the same
team, both from the Leningrad region, both from the
security forces, and both with no real experience in
administration.
Mr. Putin seemed to agree. /// END OPT ///
In comments to reporters, the prime minister designate
promised to continue the policies of the Stepashin
government. He said both he and the former Prime
Minister had accepted President Yeltsin's decision as
soldiers, accustomed to carrying out orders.
But Mr. Putin hinted the change may have had to do
with Mr. Stepashin's handling of the recent flare-up
in the north Caucasus region, where Russian troops are
battling Muslim insurgents.
/// OPT /// PUTIN ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE
UNDER ///
/// OPT /// He says -- with elections coming, and in
connection with events in the Caucasus, President
Yeltsin thought it was necessary to make a change.
/// END OPT ///
But he gave no clue as to how he might change Moscow's
policy toward the Dagestan insurgency, which many fear
could erupt into another Chechnya. President Yeltsin
has described the botched war in Chechnya as the worst
mistake of his presidency.
Leaders of parliament factions say the Duma, the Lower
House, will meet next Monday to consider the Putin
nomination. If lawmakers reject the nomination on
three-votes, Mr. Yeltsin must dissolve the Duma and
call elections within three-months. But with
regularly scheduled elections little more than four-
months away, lawmakers are expected to approve the
nomination rather than risk losing the benefits of
office during the campaign season. (Signed)
NEB/PFH/JWH/RAE
09-Aug-1999 12:15 PM EDT (09-Aug-1999 1615 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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