DATE=9/9/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PUTIN/KURSK (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-266301
BYLINE=VICTOR BEATTIE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledges
he made a mistake last month by failing to rush back
to the Kremlin from his southern vacation to deal with
the "Kursk" nuclear submarine disaster. However, as
V-O-A's Victor Beattie reports, Mr. Putin told a U-S
television interviewer he was in constant contact with
Russian military officials during the crisis.
TEXT: In an appearance on the C-N-N program "Larry
King Live," President Putin - when asked if there was
anything he would have done differently to deal with
the crisis in the Barents Sea initially said "No."
Then, speaking through an interpreter, he added this:
/// PUTIN ACT ///
The only thing which could have been changed in
conduct as head of state, it could be possible
to halt my working meetings, to suspend them at
the place of my vacation in Sochi, the Black
Sea, I could go back to the capital, to Moscow.
But, again, it would have been a P-R (public
relations) activity since in any city of the
country, or all over the world, I'm always
linked to the military, I have communications
means, I can discuss any problems on the table.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Putin says the cause of the Kursk disaster remains
unclear, but he suggests a foreign vessel collided
with the submarine. He insists an immediate acceptance
of foreign help was unnecessary since the crew
perished shortly after the disaster.
U-S and British experts have flatly rejected
suggestions that the Kursk was involved in a
collision, although U-S officials have acknowledged
there were American submarines in the vicinity.
Mr. Putin also promised to look at the case of U-S
businessman Edmund Pope after a Russian court makes
its verdict on the espionage charges against him.
(SIGNED).
NEB/VB/PFH
09-Sep-2000 06:21 AM EDT (09-Sep-2000 1021 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
