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DATE=12/31/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=US - RUSSIA WRAP (L)
NUMBER=2-257679
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:   President Clinton says he looks forward to 
working with Russia's Acting President Vladimir Putin, 
who assumed the position upon Russian President Boris 
Yeltsin's surprise resignation Friday - six months 
before his term was to end.    US officials say they 
do not believe the transfer of power will affect US-
Russia ties.   Correspondent Deborah Tate has White 
House reaction.
Text:   Clinton administration officials say they have 
come to know and respect Mr. Putin during his time as 
Prime Minister and as Mr. Yeltsin's National Security 
Advisor, and thus, they say, there will be no change 
in bilateral relations.
In a telephone call with Mr. Clinton, Mr. Yeltsin 
vowed that Russia would remain committed to democracy, 
open markets and arms control - according to White 
House spokesman Joe Lockart.
The spokesman says Mr. Clinton, in turn, praised Mr. 
Yeltsin's achievements in democratic reform and arms 
control.   But the US President said the announcement 
of the resignation was a sad moment for him, as the 
two men had developed a close personal relationship. 
Earlier, Mr. Clinton paid tribute to Mr. Yeltsin for 
dismantling his country's communist system and 
replacing it with a democratic structure.
            // Clinton actuality //
      I think he genuinely deplored communism.  He 
      lived with it, he saw it and he believed that 
      democracy was the best system.   I think it was 
      in every fiber of his being. 
            // end act //
In a brief appearance before reporters, Mr. Clinton 
acknowledged having had his differences with Mr. 
Yeltsin, most recently over Moscow's military campaign 
in the breakaway region of Chechnya.   But he said he 
and his former Russian counterpart were able to work 
together to advance their common interests.
US officials say they had no advance notice of Mr. 
Yeltsin's resignation, but say they were not totally 
surprised by it - noting there had been recent 
speculation in the Russian media that he might step 
down because of health concerns.   (Signed)
NEB/DAT/PT
31-Dec-1999 18:29 PM EDT (31-Dec-1999 2329 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.