DATE=9/12/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON / PUTIN (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-253758
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=AUCKLAND
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton -- in a meeting with
Russia's new prime minister, Vladimir Putin -- urged
Moscow to forcefully combat the problem of corruption.
Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from Auckland, New
Zealand, where the meeting took place on the sidelines
of a regional trade summit.
Text: Just days after Mr. Clinton used a phone call
with Russian President Boris Yeltsin to appeal for
action against growing corruption in Russia, he
underscored his message to Prime Minister Putin.
National Security Advisor Sandy Berger detailed the
meeting:
// BERGER ACTUALITY //
The president said he wants to see this problem dealt
with, he hopes Russia will deal with this, because it
could eat the heart out of Russian society, if the
problem of corruption is not dealt with.
// END ACTUALITY //
U-S and British investigators are probing whether
organized crime was involved in illegally funneling
billions of dollars out of Russia through accounts at
the Bank of New York. In addition, Swiss
investigators believe they have found evidence linking
Kremlin officials to a bribery scandal involving a
Swiss firm.
According to Mr. Berger, Mr. Putin admitted there is a
corruption problem in Russia -- as there is in other
countries -- and he suggested some of it may be
politically motivated. Mr. Putin says the United
States and Russia should work together toward solving
the problem.
Russia is sending a team of law enforcement officials
to the United States, soon, to meet with members of
the Federal Bureau of Investigation to discuss anti-
corruption efforts.
On other matters, Mr. Clinton and Mr. Putin discussed
arms control and nuclear nonproliferation.
The president reiterated that Washington wants to
amend the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty to allow
for deployment of a system to defend against missile
attacks by what he calls `rogue states,' such as Iran
and North Korea.
Although Russia opposes the move, it has agreed to
discuss the issue. Mr. Putin called for the talks to
continue.
The prime minister also said Russia continues to press
The Duma to ratify the Start Two Treaty, which would
make further cuts in each country's nuclear stockpile.
But he indicated ratification would not happen soon.
The Duma -- dominated by former communists -- has
stalled ratification of Start Two, believing it gives
the United States an unfair advantage. However, U-S
and Russian negotiators have begun talks on a Start
Three treaty that would make additional cuts in both
sides nuclear arsenals.
On the issue of non-proliferation, Mr. Clinton called
on Russia to tighten export controls to prevent the
transfers of nuclear technology to Iran. Mr. Putin
acknowledges there were problems with his country's
export controls. He says Moscow wants to continue
working with Washington so it could gain control of
the matter. (signed)
Neb/dat / wd
12-Sep-1999 05:15 AM LOC (12-Sep-1999 0915 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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