Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

EUROPE

RUSSIA: "Yeltsin Bets On Crude Force"

Reformist Izvestiya front-paged this commentary (8/11) by Aleksei Nikolsky and Semyon Novoprudsky: "Weak as never before, President Boris Yeltsin, it seems, has decided to bet on crude force. With Putin in the premier's office and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Yeltsin urging stability in the country, the influence of the 'force ministries' will grow infinitely. And so will the influence of the government's staff."

"Yeltsin Violates Voters' Right"

Reformist, youth-oriented Moskovskii Komsomolets (8/11) featured this open letter to Boris Yeltsin: "No doubt, under the constitution, the president can sack the premier and government. But by sacking Mr. Stepashin without explaining your reasons, you violated a voters' right which, while not being written in the Basic Law, is natural in a democracy. It is the right to know."

"Self-Defense Groups Biggest Threat"

Neo-communist Slovo (8/11-12) had this front-page editorial: "Forming self-defense groups and arming the local population, which does not trust the local authorities to protect it from bandits, is the biggest threat to federalism in Russia. We may end up with a civil war in the Caucasus. This is exactly what the separatists are after."

"Specter Of Islamic Revolution"

Pavel Anokhin warned in reformist Noviye Izvestiya (8/11): "Those behind the idea of distributing and legalizing arms among the population in Dagestan should know that these weapons can easily be used to stage an 'Islamic revolution' in the North Caucasus. The federal forces, indecisive and incompetent, are poor protection for the corruption-weakened Russia."

"Provocation"

Official parliamentary Parlamentskaya Gazeta had this commentary by Andrei Papushin (8/10): "It looks like a provocation. Should the opposition respond rashly, the Kremlin would declare a state of emergency. The president's love for weird situations is common knowledge, so his administration produces them every six months. Emerging victorious from a crisis makes him feel better morally and physically. Not so about the country, which has to endure the oddities of its leader's policy."

"Everybody Disapproves Of The Decision"

Aleksandr Privalov said in reformist Izvestiya (8/10): "The president is as good as his word--he has named the man he wants to see as his successor. But his method of doing so, sacking a loyal cabinet, is confusing. It does not look like a reasonable move. Yeltsin has shown that he can consolidate this nation with a stroke of his pen--everybody has condemned his decision. It is not Stepashin's popularity. It is the hatred of backstage politics."

"War Assumes Alarming Proportion"

Yevgeny Krutikov asserted in reformist Izvestiya (8/10): "A full-scale war in the Caucasus is going to result in a state of emergency and the cancellation of federal presidential elections. It seems that certain forces in Chechnya want to see that happen. The situation in Dagestan is disastrous. A lot depends on the military as well as the politicians."

"Yeltsin Jealous"

Konstantin Levin commented on page one of reformist, business-oriented Kommersant Daily (8/7): "The president has been discontented with the premier. This is not so much because of the premier's setbacks in the election campaign as the welcome he was accorded during his recent trips to Germany and the United States. Yeltsin is known to be jealous of his premiers' successes."

"Moscow Caught Unawares Again"

Reformist daily Vremya-MN (8/9) front-paged a report by Mikhail Chernyak and Aleksandr Raskin on Muslim radicals fighting to break away part of Russia's Dagestan: "Surprisingly, the Feds have been caught unawares, even though the radicals have been active since last spring, according to the sources of the Interior Ministry and the Federal Security Service. On July 11 local religious leaders, in an open letter to the Dagestan government, made it clear that they had resolved to set up an independent Islamic republic and were determined to 'fight consistently to achieve their goal.'"

"Bringing Forth A Mouse With New Coalition In Duma"

Reformist Noviye Izvestiya (8/6) front-paged a comment by Sergei Agafonov on Otechestvo (Fatherland) and Vsya Rossiya (All Russia) forming a new bloc for the upcoming parliamentary elections: "Presented as a great accomplishment, the marriage of two 'political adolescents,' in effect, attests to them each feeling defective and unsure of themselves.... Pundits may talk their heads off, discussing consolidation among local elites and centripetal tendencies, but they can't hide that what is going on is an attempt to privatize big politics through joint effort. Instead of seeing a serious political force, we watch a show a la retro. This is another case of the mountain bringing forth a mouse."

"Hoping For The Best"

Official parliamentary daily Parlamentskaya Gazeta (8/5) remarked in a report by Andrei Papushin on the forming of a new election coalition of Otechestvo and Vsya Rossiya: "Hopefully, with it, there will be less confusion and uncertainty in our socio-political life."

"New Political Vector"

Yevgeny Krutikov commented on page one of reformist Izvestiya (8/5): "The merger indicates a new political vector which points away from the Kremlin. It may seriously change Russia's political make-up in the years ahead.... Now, in the runup to the presidential campaign, the only reasonable choice is between Primakov and Stepashin."

"Coalition Formation Defeat For Kremlin"

Yelena Yegorova stated on page one of reformist, youth-oriented Moskovskii Komsomolets (8/5): "The Kremlin has suffered its worst defeat in months. By getting together with Otechestvo, the governors [Vsya Rossiya] have changed colors, leaving Yeltsin in the position of the British queen who reigns without ruling.

"The new opposition is going to be stronger than the Communists."

BRITAIN: "Rebels Declare Islamic State In Dagestan"

The conservative Times remarked (8/11): "Islamic rebels in the republic of Dagestan declared the region an independent Islamic state yesterday, sending shock waves throughout Russia. Russia's greatest fear is the 'Afghanization' of the Caucasus, where radical rebels could impose a Taliban-style regime.... It is the first challenge for Vladimir Putin, the Russian prime minister-designate."

"Son Of Yeltsin"

An editorial in the conservative Daily Telegraph judged (8/10): "By firing the Russian government, Boris Yeltsin is positioning his forces for next year's presidential election. The departure of Sergei Stepashin marks no change of direction. What distinguishes the new man, Vladimir Putin, is his anointing as Mr. Yeltsin's preferred successor.... The electoral battle now being joined could transform Russia's relations with the West. In that struggle, Mr. Putin is more likely to be a puppet than a puller of strings."

"Another Day, Another Russian Government"

This was the view of the conservative Times' lead editorial (8/10): "Vladimir Putin (is) a faceless-wonder bureaucrat with a background in the security police and a yearning to rebuild that organization. His most noteworthy characteristic is his grey interchangeability with his predecessor. Yet Mr. Yeltsin announced that the latest ex-KGB retread was the ideal candidate to take over as president when his own term expires next year.... There may, however, be an opportunistic method in Mr. Yeltsin's apparent madness. While not good for Russia, yesterday's reshuffle could be good for his own clique of supporters."

"Russia's Future"

The independent Financial Times told its readers (8/10): "Boris Yeltsin's habit of firing his prime ministers is making Russian politics look farcical. But the effect of chronic instability on the prospects for the country's future prosperity is no joke. With elections to the Duma set for December, and presidential elections due next summer, there is little doubt that political maneuvering will now take priority over economic reform. The appointment of a new prime minister is just the start."

"Russian Rebels"

The conservative Times editorialized (8/9): "Aftershocks from the Chechen conflict are still shaking the Caucasus. The attempt by Islamic militants to take their fight beyond Chechnya's borders now threatens to destabilize the entire turbulent region. Russia, which still refuses to recognize Chechnya's de facto independence, cannot tolerate a fresh attempt to stir rebellion along its southern flank: with militants now challenging Moscow's authority by seizing villages in Dagestan and holding scores of hostages, the Russian government is poised for a full military assault on the Islamists. Once again, Moscow risks being bogged down in a conflict in mountains that, for 200 years, have seen little but feuding. A year after the crash of the ruble, the last thing President Yeltsin can afford is another August crisis in the Caucasus."

FRANCE: "Dagestan Defies Moscow"

According to economic Les Echos' editorial (8/11): "The change of prime minister in Moscow has not at all impressed Dagestan's Islamists, who have declared the independence of the small Caucasus republic....

"Facing a risk of explosion in the region of Caucasus, the Council of the Russia Federation will decide by vote whether or not to send troops to support the Interior ministry's forces in Dagestan.... Sooner or later, Moscow will have to face the choice between giving up Dagestan or engaging the army, as it did in Chechnya five years ago."

"All In The Family"

Pierre Rousselin stressed in right-of-center Le Figaro (8/10): "Four and a half months before the legislative elections, it was about time that the 'family,' the nebula made of parents and relatives of Yeltsin which monopolizes the state, at last had a candidate. To the general surprise, will Vladimir Putin be the providential man who will seduce the voters? Nothing is less certain.... Isn't he a product of the intelligence service rather than a political animal? On the eve of a delicate period, the Kremlin is turning once again to its secret service.... This return to the good old Soviet recipes is not a good omen. Putin will have to fight the illusions and prove that he can defend the presidential legacy and respect democracy at the same time."

"Destructive Frenzy"

Francoise Crouigneau contended in economic Les Echos (8/10): "Yeltsin's capacity to destroy can be compared to his loneliness and declining health: It is impressive.... Everyone knows we have to wait until after the presidential election before Russia applies real reforms that will reassure the many creditors and appeal to investors. Nevertheless, in spite of a chronic instability, all governments have avoided the worst.... Masters in playing with their creditors' nerves, the Russians know that nobody wants a vast nuclear country to go bankrupt."

GERMANY: "Dagestan In Jeopardy"

Wolfgang Guenter Lerch stressed in right-of-center Frankfurter Allgemeine (8/11): "A driving force behind the rebels in Dagestan are fanatical Muslims rebels from the Arab world who support their Muslim brothers...wherever they consider it appropriate. For more than 20 years, these 'Afghans'...have been troubling the entire Muslim world.... The rebels have now proclaimed an independent state by the name of 'Shura for Dagestan' and have announced a 'holy war' against the Russians. But this is not what the majority of Dagestan Muslims want. The whole of the Caucasus could now be set afire, but in view of their fanatical zeal, the rebels do not give a damn about it."

"A Tune Heard Before"

Readers of right-of-center Theuringer Allgemeine saw this editorial (8/11): "We heard the same thing about Afghanistan, and almost word for word later about Chechnya--two weeks at most. By then, Russia's new premier, Vladimir Putin, plans to have resolved the Dagestan problem."

"No Credibility"

Right-of-center Die Welt of Berlin opined (8/10): "Those who are searching for a trace of credibility in the policy of the Russian president will not find it any more. Only three months ago, he introduced a prime minister who met with generous support from the West in the debt restructuring negotiations. Now he is appointing a man who was part of the Soviet power apparatus. In the intelligence service, he was an active spy, and later he served in the background in several administrative posts. However, it remains an interesting question to see whether the parliamentarians in the Duma will express their confidence in the designated government leader. If not, Yeltsin could dissolve the Duma and Putin could govern by circumventing the Duma.... If the parliamentarians approve Putin, their credibility will suffer since they voted with a broad majority for Stepashin. But credibility is no longer an issue in Russia anymore."

"Yeltsin Too Predictable"

Centrist Sueddeutsche Zeitung held (8/10): "The state leader looked remote-controlled when the president presented intelligence chief Vladimir Putin as the new prime minister.

Boris Yeltsin is a sick man. This is why it is difficult to judge whether he realizes his own or the will of others. But he is not unpredictable. On the contrary, he has become too predictable when the issue is to decide between the well being of Russia and the well being of his surroundings. The caretaker function of the president does not reach much beyond the walls of the Kremlin."

"Yeltsin Is Acting Irresponsibly"

Right-of-center Nordsee-Zeitung of Bremerhaven noted (8/10): "Those who, like Yeltsin, replace the government leader every few months, must allow the question of whether they are thus documenting their own incompetence. We could almost think that the Russian president makes his decisions after a few glasses of vodka, since they are catching everybody by surprise.... Yeltsin is acting irresponsibly with the office of the prime minister, who is governing a vast country that is faced with so many problems. Russia needs nothing more urgent than stability. But instead of giving the tottering state stability, the president is producing instability with his poker game about personnel."

"Formation Of Fronts"

Werner Adam pennned an editorial in right-of-center Frankfurter Allgemeine (8/5): "In Russia, there are still no real parties. The alliances that are now forming in Russia in view of the parliamentary and the presidential elections are composed of groups and groupings whose survival depends on a few people.... The newest alliance made up of supporters of Moscow's Mayor Luzhkov and some influential regional leaders is directed against President Yeltsin's attempts to determine his successor on his own. Yeltsin wants to prevent his former government leader Primakov from becoming the next president."

"The Great Election Campaign For The Fatherland"

Daniel Broessler editorialized in centrist Sueddeutsche Zeitung of Munich (8/5): "In his search for strong allies (in the upcoming parliamentary election campaign), the ambitious mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov, found an ally on Wednesday. His Fatherland Party and the All Russia group sealed an alliance. For Luzhkov, this strategic partnership is of immense importance...since he, as the mayor of the richest city in the country, must often accept the accusation that he is not interested in the fate of the country as a whole but only in Moscow's fate.... This is why the All Russia group is an important partner for him.... The members of this group could help him increase his credibility outside of Moscow. This pact with the All Russia group also shows that Luzhkov thinks beyond the parliamentary elections. On July 9, 2000, the Russians will vote for President Yeltsin's successor. If Luzhkov wants to change from the town hall to the Kremlin, he needs a broad basis of support in the country. Much will now depend on whom the new alliance will send as the top candidate into the elections.... Eight years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia is not poor in political contradictions. But the country does not have political camps that are able to articulate these contradictions.... There is a lack of real political parties.... On the contrary, in Russia's opaque political landscape, there is one politician who can still create confusion. Before the parliamentary elections many people will fearfully look at Boris Yeltsin."

ITALY: "An 'Explosive' Country Where Islam Became More Radical"

Piero Sinatti commented in leading business Il Sole 24-Ore (8/11): "The proclamation of the 'holy war' and independence from one Islamic Republic in Dagestan tells us how serious the situation in that region is.... Chechnya is still at play.... Dagestan is an explosive country...above all because of its low per capita income and unemployment...and because power is still in the hands of a Communist 'nomenclature'...which is ineffective and corrupt. For Moscow, Dagestan has a strong strategic interest.... Moreover, in the last decade a significant change took place: A Rigid Wahhabi fundamentalism...has replaced the moderate, tolerant and flexible [strain of Islam.]... [The former] welds itself with secessionism of anti-Russian extremism and the social and economic problems. Military means are not enough to beat it. But Moscow is forced to use them because a comprehensive policy and skillful intelligence are lacking in the region."

"Boris's Russian Roulette"

Giulietto Chiesa commented on the front page of centrist, influential La Stampa (8/10): "There appears to be no limit to the imagination of Boris Yeltsin, and there probably isn't.... The Russians...are just supposed to accept a handpicked heir. If this isn't a farce, then it's getting very close.... Indeed, Yeltsin's gambit is intended to avoid at all costs elections because Yeltsin, his family and his supporters would lose them. It is dangerous and difficult to succeed in the effort, but the Kremlin seems to deem that this is less dangerous than allowing adversaries to win.... Russia certainly has a lot of problems, but the main one seems to be the difficulty it is having getting rid peacefully of the 'family' of the czar--even though the White House confirms that 'nothing has changed for us.'"

"Europe's Sick Country"

Left-leaning, influential La Repubblica front-paged these remarks by Sandro Viola (8/10): "All you can see [in Russia] is the glaring institutional vacuum, the feuds between the two or three primitive political tribes that thrash about in that vacuum.... Indeed, there is nothing that can collapse in Russian politics today for the very simple reason that everything has already collapsed."

BELGIUM: "Problems Beset Russia"

Pol Mathil commented in independent Le Soir (8/11): "It goes without saying that, promoted prime minister ad interim by Boris Yeltsin a mere 24 hours before, Vladimir Putin does not have a lot of experience. And it is no surprise either that, forgetting that those events were taking place in the Caucasus, he was foolish enough to declare that 'the situation in Dagestan would be back to normal within a week and a half to two weeks.' What is surprising is that Vladimir Putin, the former boss of the secret service, did not draw the lesson from the war in Chechnya. Didn't this war also begin with a reassuring declaration from the Kremlin, stating that 'Grozny would be taken in a few hours?' That war lasted two years and caused about 100,000 casualties...first and foremost civilian ones."

"Moscow's Mayor Paves His Presidential Way"

Pol Mathil wrote in independent Le Soir (8/6) on Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov and his Fatherland Party's coalition alliance with the political movement All Russia: "The logic of this move is obvious. The mayor of Moscow, one of the most serious candidates for Boris Yeltsin's succession, is first and foremost popular in the capital city. He thus needs the governors' support to boost his popularity in regions which, rightly so, accuse Moscow of monopolizing the country's wealth.

"More importantly, it creates in both the December 1999 and June 2000 electoral campaigns a new balance of power which might provoke unexpected and dangerous reactions from the Kremlin.... The question is to know whether, concerned about protecting himself and his family from the revenge of rival clans, or pushed by his entourage whose interests might be threatened by a post-electoral settling of scores, Boris Yeltsin is ready to try to resort to force, trickery, and fraud. It is not impossible, but it is clear that any attempt to impose a president by force would cause more damage to Russia than the arrival of a president who might even be bad but democratically elected. The stakes are clear: democracy in Russia, and Russia's place in the world."

BULGARIA: "At The Kremlin They Got Totally Confused"

Center-right Standart held (8/10): "At the Kremlin they are starting to behave like in a home for the aged. Vladimir Putin is the fifth prime minister Yeltsin has appointed in a period of just 18 months. Who would view such an administration seriously? Even if the international institutions intend to conduct a normal and lasting policy with Russia, there will be no one with whom they can do it. In this case hardly can those in Moscow regard themselves as representatives of a great power."

"It's Not News"

Opposition party Duma observed (8/10): "It's not news that yesterday Russia met the dawn with a new prime minister. It's not news that again he belongs to the special service. The president changes the heads of government as often as the guard in front of the mausoleum used to change. In this way he supports his own power."

CROATIA: "The Dagestan Flash Point"

Bogoljub Lacmanovic commented in government-controlled Vjesnik (8/11): "There is no doubt that the armed conflict in Dagestan is not only a war for territories and an Islamic state, but above all a war for the oil-rich Caspian Sea.... Russia reacted swiftly against the armed rebellion in...Dagestan, deploying strong ground and air forces. It is not only about suppressing separatism, but also about protecting the pipeline, which runs from Dagestan through Russia to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. Russian troops have entirely closed in on the Islamic rebels, and the prime minister-designate Vladimir Putin has already optimistically declared that the flash point would be extinguished in a week's time. That probably will happen, but Dagestan will certainly remain a permanent and hard-to-solve crisis point for Moscow. One reason for that certainly stems from the fact that in a pre-election year, Moscow politicians are more concerned about their struggle for power in the Kremlin than the fate of Dagestan and its pro-Russian government."

DENMARK: "Yeltsin's Latest Maneuver"

Center-right Jyllands-Posten commented (8/10): "Yeltsin's latest maneuver comes at a time when Russia needs political stability, not chaos. Monday's events have sown doubts about whether democratic means are sufficient to resolve Russia's problems. The West no longer takes Yeltsin seriously but it has to treat him with a certain respect. In addition, Western politicians have not been able to get to know the new Russian leaders before they have been fired. Because of this, Vladimir Putin will be met with some reservation. Nobody can be sure that Putin will still be in office in December when the parliamentary elections will be held. Yeltsin is simply too unpredictable and this has become Russia's greatest problem."

"Sad End To A Great Era"

Center-right Berlingske Tidende editorialized (8/10): "Russia is indebted to Yeltsin. However, his constant changes of government reveal his increasing desperation. He is continuing to use the only weapon he has and the interests of the country appear to have been pushed into the background. It is a rather sad end to a great era in the country's history."

"Yeltsin Should Step Down"

Center-left Aktuelt opined (8/10): "It would be deeply tragic if Yeltsin allows himself to be swayed by pressure from his nearest supporters and his family to act undemocratically, given that he has devoted ten years trying to democratize Russia. Yeltsin has done much for Russia, but the best thing he can do now is step down."

FINLAND: "Yeltsin's Last Battle"

Erkki Pennanen penned this editorial in independent Helsingin Sanomat (8/11): "Boris Yeltsin is getting to be as unpopular as Gorbachev was during the final days of the Soviet Union. Yeltsin engaged in a risky gamble, thinking that by next summer Putin...would be able to convince Russians that he is also suitable to be Russia's next president. For the time being, that is hard to believe. But the prime minister's office gives him every chance to exceed expectations.... Putin's career shows that he has significant assets which may become invaluable.... Russians appreciate determination and toughness, which Stepashin, who looked like a nice guy, was said to be lacking. Until now, Yeltsin has said that naming a successor would make life difficult. So why did he now announce that the new prime minister-designate is also his choice for the presidency? The obvious reason is that Yeltsin feels that the final battle of his political career has started. The anti-Yeltsin opposition appears to have gained such a strong upper hand that the final battle threatens to end in the demise of his presidential candidate."

LATVIA: "Stephasin Fired"

Leading Diena's Aris Jansons editorialized (8/10): "Putin at this time doesn't look like a politician that would satisfy the majority of the political elite."

"Broken-Down Feed Trough With A Rescue Straw"

Maris Krumins wrote in second-largest daily Neatkariga Rita Avize (8/10): "Concerning the unpromising Putin--most likely, the State Duma will confirm him for the prime minister's post. Not because the deputies like this 'politician,' but because they do not want to allow one of the Kremlin's possible scenarios to be carried out--dismissal of the State Duma and postponement of the elections. In their turn, the Kremlin's strategists are going to remain at the broken-down feed trough in which a lonely straw will be floating to rescue them--Putin."

NORWAY: "Yeltsin: Unpredictable, Sick Old man"

Northern Norwegian Nordlys judged (8/11): "Boris Yeltsin has again shown himself to be an unpredictable and sick old man, but a man who still has power and is willing to use it. The appointment of Vladimir Putin is creating international uneasiness.... The replacement will hardly lead to great political changes, but there is no doubt that Yeltsin's conduct is creating great uncertainty regarding Russia's political course and development."

"Many Losers In Russian Gamble"

Conservative Aftenposten (8/10) commented: "The Russian president is...gambling with the outside world's patience....

"Russia has not become a responsible country that will cooperate on solutions to the very complicated problems that one foresaw ten years ago. Instead, the country only uses its chaotic might, and status as a nuclear power, to slow down international cooperation. At the same time, Moscow demands that the West pay for Russian politicians' own incompetence in working with the country's enormous problems. This incompetence has again been demonstrated by Boris Yeltsin."

"Yeltsin's Game Of Chess"

Independent tabloid Dagbladet said (8/10): "With yesterday's appointment of a careerist from the former KGB as prime minister, it should be clear that the difference between the power structures of the Soviet Union and Yeltsin's regime are no longer so great. Nor is Russia's road to democracy simple, regardless of which slogans one imports from the West.... In the future we should also learn not to support individual personalities in Russia, but help with structural changes. Only in this way can Russia one day perhaps become an open and democratic society."

SPAIN: "Russia's Bleak Future"

Barcelona's centrist La Vanguardia opined (8/11): "Russia's economic situation curiously resembles the caricature of capitalism advanced by Communist propagandists: mafias, corruption, violence, and social inequality. And now a group of rebels has declared Dagestan to be an independent Islamic republic, while the Kremlin ponders what to do about the situation.... Russia's principal problem dates from the days of the czars, continued through Soviet times, and has yet to be solved during this theoretically democratic era. It appears to be incapable of building a modern society, of constructing an institutional framework able to limit the power of its political leaders, or of establishing the rule of law."

"Russian Roulette"

Liberal El Pais commented (8/10): "This latest political somersault is not unrelated to pre-election maneuvering. Stepashin was unable to impede an alliance between Moscow's mayor, Yuri Luzhkov, and an influential group of regional governors who are attempting to take control of parliament and, eventually, the presidency. Their alliance may be joined by Yevgeny Primakov, another ex-premier and [like Stepashin's replacement, Vladimir Putin,] a former spy, and currently Russia's most popular politician. They represent a threat to the plans of Yeltsin's entourage, known as 'the family,' whose eminence grise is the magnate, Boris Berezovsky. It would appear that Russia will greet the new year in the eye of a political hurricane."

"Yeltsin: A Seriously Destabilizing Element"

Conservative ABC noted (8/10): "It has become increasingly clear that Yeltsin's continuance in power until next June is a seriously destabilizing element."

"Putin: Accomplice Of The 'Family'"

Independent El Mundo opined (8/10): "Putin's nomination has much to do with Yeltsin's clan, known as 'the family,' led by his daughter Tatiana and multi-millionaire Boris Berezovsky. Putin is not only their accomplice, but also an unscrupulous politician who, as future president, can guarantee their impunity. His ascent serves as a shield for Yeltsin and his court from whom the justice system may one day require a rendering of accounts."

"Yeltsin The Unpredictable"

Barcelona's centrist La Vanguardia judged (8/10): "The Russian constitution confers extraordinary powers on the president, although the dizzying rotation of prime ministers and that office's consequent loss of prestige are hardly desirable in a country that seeks to be respected as an international power and the equal of others in that class. Stepashin may have been the victim of the explosive situation in Dagestan, but Yeltsin's unpredictability is more explosive yet."

SWEDEN: "Russia Stumbles Along"

Independent, liberal Dagens Nyheter's Per Ahlin maintained (8/10): "Boris Yeltsin did it again. Suddenly the acting Russian premier realizes that he no longer holds the confidence of the president, and that he is out in the cold...resulting in another test of strength with the Duma.... Russia is stumbling along. We can observe an unstable country with a political system that allows prestige and personal vendettas to overshadow everything.... Last Monday's decision reinforces the picture of the Kremlin having no real management. The president is ill, is seldom in his office, and seems to have no vision but the one regarding his posthumous reputation."

TURKEY: "Turmoil In The Caucasus"

Sami Kohen contended in mass-appeal Milliyet (8/11): "It is obvious that Russia will not let Dagestan secede and go for independence. The leaders of Kremlin worry about the possibility that any weakness from their side [regarding the Dagestan issue] will cause more separatism within the other autonomous regions of the Russian Federation.... The other obstacles that guerrillas might face is the Dagestani people themselves.... The majority of people don't approve an ultra-religious fundamentalist regime.... There is, however, a possibility that Basayev and his group might still want to continue their fight. That means more bloodshed and turning the stability in the Caucasus upside down."

"Russia's New Prime Minister"

Fikret Ertan observed in religious/intellectual Zaman (8/10): "It looks like Vladimir Putin has more of a chance of keeping his position as prime minister than the previous ones. Because Yeltsin nominated him for the upcoming presidency, we should get to know Putin better."

EAST ASIA

CHINA: "Why Did Yeltsin Sack Government Again?"

Sun Zhanlin noted in official Communist Party People's Daily Overseas Edition (8/11): "Boris Yeltsin's decision to dissolve the Stepashin cabinet is aimed at shaping the forthcoming parliamentary and presidential elections.... In order to avoid losing his power to the other parties, Boris Yeltsin dismissed Stepashin, whom he considered politically fragile."

"Yeltsin Dismisses Stepashin's Cabinet"

Zhang Tiezhu noted in official Communist Party People's Daily Overseas Edition (Renmin Ribao Haiwaiban, 8/10): "Observers note that by appointing Vladimir Putin as the acting Russian prime minister, Boris Yeltsin, for the first time, announced his favorite candidate as his successor. This indicates that Yeltsin has already mapped out a clear plan for the next presidential elections."

JAPAN: "Yeltsin Again Fires Prime Minister"

Liberal Asahi's editorial concluded (8/11): "Yeltsin stunned Russia and the world on Monday by dismissing Prime Minister Stepashin and appointing security service chief Putin as acting prime minister. It seems that more and more security or political police officials have assumed key positions close to the president. Should Yeltsin rely on those security officials, many of whom may be currying favor with him, instead of other government policy planners, he can hardly revitalize his government. It looks as if the sickly president continues to regard cabinet reshuffles as the only way to demonstrate his authority and prolong his political leadership."

"Russian Politics Set To Go Adrift Again?"

Liberal Asahi's Moscow correspondents Ono and Soejima opined (8/10): "With Russian President Yeltsin's abrupt dismissal of Prime Minister Stepashin on Monday, Russian politics is more likely to sail into 'rough seas with extremely poor visibility' again. As seen by the formation of a middle-of-the-road political alliance by Moscow Mayor Luzhkov, Russia's political forces are accelerating moves toward reorganization before lower house (State Duma) elections, set for December. Such reorganization moves are apparently turning against President Yeltsin. Against such a background, the Russian president had no option but resort to his dwindling presidential authority to dismiss the prime minister and appoint an acting prime minister."

PHILIPPINES: "An Enforcer And A Spook"

Publisher Max Soliven pointd out in the third-leading Philippine Star (8/10): "What's interesting is that Mr. Yeltsin not only appointed as his new prime minister the boss of the Federal Security Service (FSB), the no less powerful successor of the former, hated, terrorizing KGB (Committee of State Security)--in short, an enforcer and spook.... Whether Putin will last the course, and not be dumped along the way, just as Mr. Yeltsin has junked four others...remains to be seen."

SINGAPORE: "Yeltsin At It Again"

The pro-government Straits Times observed (8/11): "Russian President Boris Yeltsin's caprice has risen above the imperious to the almost imperial.... [His] repeated use of his undoubtedly extensive powers as president has reduced the Russian government and its head to such a position of subordination that the whole issue of personalities has perhaps become irrelevant. So stark is this truth that major world markets ignored the latest round of political decapitation, which is now seen as quite normal for the kind of polity that an economically scarred Russia has become. This is a pity, for the mess it is in is not the result that the country's escape from communism was intended to produce. But that is what has happened."

SOUTH KOREA: "Yeltsin Still Hanging On To Power"

Hwang Sung-jip remarked in conservative Chosun Ilbo (8/10): "Russian President Yeltsin has named Vladimir Putin as acting prime minister. He even said Putin could well become his successor in presidential elections next year. Hit by yet another surprising move by its president, Russia is now back in a state of confusion.... The move indicates that Yeltsin still refuses to become a lame-duck president. By reshuffling the political landscape, he is trying to hold on to power."

VIETNAM: "Yeltsin's Decision Could Be A Wise One"

An editorial in Lao Dong (Labor), the newspaper of Vietnam's General Confederation of Trade Unions, commented (8/11): "Mr. Yeltsin saw that Stepashin did not possess the capability and qualities to become his successor, especially since recently Stepashin announced that he would not run for Russia's presidential election. [So now] is the suitable time for Mr. Yeltsin to swap horses in the middle of the race to the election in June, 2000. The new horse is Vladimir Putin.... And Putin has shown what Stepashin did not have: ambition.... In a certain respect, Mr. Yeltsin's decision is a wise one. Better than anyone else, he is well aware that only with particular understanding of security can one administer Russia, which is regarded as a 'rogue horse,' only such a person can win cooperation and respect (though with reluctance) from opposition parties."

SOUTH ASIA

INDIA: "Change Again In Russia"

In the editorial view of the nationalist Hindustan Times (8/10): "Russian President Boris Yeltsin's favorite trouble-shooting tactic of hitting out in all directions is becoming a bit too familiar for comfort for Russians and Russia-watchers alike.... With a war in the making in Russia's explosive southern region of Dagestan, and parliamentary and presidential elections just round the corner, Yeltsin could not have chosen a worse time to indulge in a sacking spree.... The more obvious reason now for Stepashin's removal may lie in murky Kremlin politics.... Many Kremlin insiders stand to lose a lot if power changes hands next year and someone like Luzhkov becomes president. Which is why the Kremlin, hostile to Luzhkov's Fatherland movement, had unsuccessfully tried to get a loyalist like Stepashin to lead the new bloc. The latest round of dismissals could also indicate apprehension within the Kremlin inner circle about an imminent reversal of political fortunes which will almost certainly expose the dark financial dealings of the Yeltsin family."

WESTERN HEMISPHERE

CANADA: "Boris' Law"

Guy Taillefer wrote in liberal Le Devoir of Quebec (8/10): "In the growing anarchy that accompanies his presidency, Czar Boris' only sign of lucidity is his determination to keep power and to prepare a succession which, later, will not demand explanations for the mess in which he has plunged the country. The worst thing is that, each time, Yeltsin deepens a little more the misery of the Russian people and mortgages the hopes that the country will get its head above water, economically speaking, and will register democratic progress. Yeltsin takes the Kremlin back to the same authoritarian and secretive exercise of power that Russians have experimented in the old USSR, but without a minimum of social guarantees. Western creditors think that it is infinitely more convenient to slash aid to the poor than to demand guarantees from the Kremlin for a fight against nepotism. It is mind-boggling that Westerners, from Washington to Paris to Bonn, claimed to be confident yesterday that Russia will pursue its 'democratic evolution' under new prime minister-designate Vladimir Putin, whom Yeltsin considers to be his heir."

ARGENTINA: "A Reaction Vis-A-Vis The Loss Of Power"

Alberto Armendariz commented in daily-of-record La Nacion (8/10): "Boris Yeltsin is giving clear signals of being more and more surrounded.... The leader keeps taking measures which show his despair. When his prime minister becomes too popular and threatens to overshadow him, he removes him..... Yeltsin's intentions are obvious: First, he is feverishly trying to maintain control over his successor, for reasons of personal survival.

"On the other hand, he wants to make sure that the political and economic measures which--whether for good or evil--he implemented since the division of the Soviet Union, are not destroyed.... The 'crown prince' had to be someone who would guarantee his immunity once he was forced to leave power. He was in search of an insurance policy for him and 'his family'--his closest advisors, according to Moscow's entourage.... But his constant cabinet shuffles and his stubborn search aimed at keeping large portions of power may be counterproductive for Yeltsin in the medium term. His constant backtracking regarding the selection of his government has strengthened the other applicants for the Kremlin..... According to many, it is ironic for Yeltsin to say that he now supports Putin as a presidential candidate to continue his democratic reforms, when he wasted most of his second term on personal power moves which did nothing but harm the country's democratic institutions, increasing corruption and the influence of the 'mafia.'"

For more information, please contact:

U.S. Information Agency

Office of Public Liaison

Telephone: (202) 619-4355

8/11/99

# # #