DATE=5/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / POLITICS (L)
NUMBER=2-262185
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian President Vladimir Putin has
formally nominated a liberal economist, Mikhail
Kasyanov, to become the country's new Prime
Minister. Moscow correspondent Eve Conant
reports Russia's parliament has one week to vote
on Mr. Putin's choice and is expected to approve
the nomination.
TEXT: President Putin has submitted Mikhail
Kasyanov's nomination for prime minister to
Russia's lower house of parliament.
The 42-year old Mr. Kasyanov has served as Mr.
Putin's de facto cabinet chief since Boris
Yeltsin's surprise resignation on December 31st
catapulted Mr. Putin into power. Mr. Kasyanov
also previously served as Russia's Finance
Minister and is known abroad for his professional
handling of Russia's external debt.
Most observers regard the nomination of the
liberal economist as a sign that Russia's new
government, which has yet to be formed, will work
toward achieving Western-style market reforms.
His nomination is also viewed as a sign Mr. Putin
wants to distance himself from economic affairs
by appointing a specialist to run the country's
turbulent economy.
Russia's prospective new prime minister on
Wednesday said the government's long-awaited
economic program should be finished soon.
/// ACT KASYANOV IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE
UNDER ///
Mr. Kasyanov says, "we are still working on the
plan and hope to have it finished by late May or
early June. Soon the government will be able to
start carrying out the new program."
The economic plan is expected to detail how
President Putin and his team plan to fulfill the
new president's pledge to revive Russia's ailing
economy and improve the living standards of the
tens of millions of Russians who overwhelmingly
voted him into office.
If Mr. Kasyanov is to become his prime minister,
he must first gain the approval of Russia's
parliament. However, the recently elected lower
house is now dominated by parties that support
Mr. Putin. The appointment of Mikhail Kasyanov
as prime minister is not expected to face much
opposition, says deputy speaker Vladimir Lukin.
/// ACT LUKIN IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE UNDER
///
"I cannot say that the lawmakers will vote
unanimously," he says. "But I'm sure most will
vote in favor of the nomination, not because of
Mr. Kasyanov's personality, but simply because he
is President Putin's choice."
///OPT TO END/// Communist Party leader Gennady
Zyuganov, who lost to Mr. Putin in the
presidential race in March, was less accepting of
the nomination.
///ACT ZYUGANOV IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE
UNDER///
"We know what he is like as a negotiator, says
Mr. Zyuganov, but we're not familiar with his
ability to manage industry or agriculture --
issues any prime minister will have to deal
with." (Signed)
NEB/EC/GE/KL
10-May-2000 09:23 AM EDT (10-May-2000 1323 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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