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Fax service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week To verify receipt of your fax, call (703) 487-4679 between 7:00am - 5:00pm, Monday - Friday, Eastern Time ) Daily Report Central Eurasia FBIS-SOV-96-108 CONTENTS 4 June 1996 NOTICE: An * indicates material not previously disseminated in electronic form. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ISSUES Russia: FBIS Presidential Election Report 3 Jun /F BIS Report] Russia: Details of Yeltsin's ‘Action Program’ Given (ROSSIYSKIYE VESTI 1] Jun] Russia: Yeltsin’s Refusal of TV Debate Assailed [SOVETSKAYA ROSSIYA I Jun] Russia: Zhirinovskiy Hopes Yeltsin Will Form Coalition Government [INTERFAX] Russia: Zyuganov on Election Campaign in Siberia [INTERFAX] Russia: Zyuganov Promises To Alter ‘Present Course’ [Moscow ORT] Russia: Zyuganov Supporters Accuse Yeltsin of Breaking Campaign Law [INTERFAX] Russia: Zyuganov Offers “Third Force’ Posts in Coalition Government [INTERFAX] Russia: Zyuganov, Zhirinovskiy Comment on Talks [Moscow NTV] Russia: Yavlinskiy Interviewed on Background, Beliefs, Issues [SOBESEDNIK Apr] Russia: Analysis Center Poll Shows Yeltsin in Lead [Radio Rossii] Russia: Yeltsin Trails Zyuganov in Bashkortostan [IZVESTIYA 30 May] ~— Chernomyrdin Interviewed on Economy, Presidential Elections /KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA 4 un Russia: Seleznev Rules Out CPRF-LDPR Accords Before 16 Jun [ITAR-TASS] INTERREGIONAL AFFAIRS CIS: ITAR-TASS Carries Press Review for 4 Jun [ITAR-TASS] CIS: Yeltsin Speaks at Caucasus Summit Meeting [Moscow RTV] CIS: Summit Hailed as ‘New Impetus’ for Peace in Caucasus /JTAR-TASS] CIS: Aliyev: Kislovodsk Meeting Will Set Peace in Caucasus [INTERFAX] Baltics: Benelux MPs Support Baltics’ Accession to EU /BNS] RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS Russia: Grachev: NATO Expansion, PFP Activities Incompatible [INTERFAX] Russia: Primakov Hails NATO's Efforts “To Adapt to Realities’ ([TAR-TASS] Russia: NATO Will Be Asked To Keep Central Europe Nuclear-Free [IZVESTIYA | Jun] Russia: Moscow Not To Seek G-7 Transformation Into G-8 in Lyon [INTERFAX] Russia: CFE Members Extend Russia's Term for Arms Destruction /[TAR-TASS] Russia: Delegation Aide Explains “Tough Line’ on CFE /[TRUD 30 May] Russia: Kislovodsk: Yeltsin Speech, Reactions Cited /[ROSSIYSKIYE VESTI 4 Jun] — Kislovodsk Talks Reviewed; Yeltsin Tone Finds Favor [KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA 4 . un Russia: Yeltsin Welcomes Geneva Forum on CIS Refugees /[ROSSIYSKIYE VESTI 3] May] Russia: Primakov Arrives Berlin 3 Jun /JTAR-TASS/] Russia: Interparliamentary Committee of ‘Union of Four’ Eyed [TRUD | Jun] Russia: Aide Denies ‘Clouds’ Mar Russo-Israeli Relations /ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA I Jun] Russia: Report on Joint Ventures With Foreign Firms in DPRK {Moscow International] Russia: Zhirinovskiy Sends Wife to North Korea, Promises Aid //TAR-TASS] RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS Political Issues Russia: Yeltsin Returns to Moscow From Caucasus Summit //TAR-TASS/ AUUbh & Wen — FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 Russia: Yeltsin Congratulates New Governor of St. Petersburg /JTAR-TASS] Russia: Yeltsin Decree Approves Regional Policy Guidelines /ITAR-TASS] Russia: Reports on Fedorov’s Arrest, Premier, Election, Chechnya [ZAVTRA May] Russia: Government To Ensure Stable Financing of Conversion /ITAR-TASS] Military & Nuclear Issues Russia: Defense Minister Grachev's Position Examined [Moscow NTV! Russia: “Gullible’ Gromov Seen Misused by Yeltsin, Grachev /SOVETSKAYA ROSSIYA | Jun] ae Kokoshin on New Armaments Program, Funding Requirements [KRASNAYA ZVEZDA 31 ay Russia: Kokoshin Defends Ministry's Arms Order Effort /KRASNAYA ZVEZDA I Jun] Russia: Defense Ministry Allocates Tax Relief To Pay Debts /ITAR-TASS] Russia: Major Battleships Scheduled To Enter Service by Year End [Moscow ORT] Russia: Procedure for Nuclear Export- — Controls Approved /[ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA 23 Federal Assembly Russia: Duma Schedules Hearings on Military Reforms [INTERFAX] gees Federation Council Replies to Admirals’ Plea for Navy [NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA 30 May Russia: State Duma To Discuss Revival of Cossack Organizations [JTAR-TASS] Regional Affairs Russia: Moscow Reports Cease-Fire Violations in Chechnya to OSCE [ITAR-TASS] Russia: Moscow Begins Talks With Chechen Separatists in Nazran [//TAR-TASS] Russia: Tikhomirov: Russian-Chechen Talks Must Be Held in Chechnya /Radio Rossii] Russia: Federal Troop Withdrawal From Chechnya Suspended //TAR-TASS] Russia: Air Force Denies Raids on Chechen Villages 3 Jun [INTERFAX] Russia: Defense Ministry Has “No Information’ on Chechnya Air Raid [INTERFAX] Russia: Chechen Gunmen on Assassination Mission Detained in Groznyy /INTERFAX] Russia: Sobchak To Create ‘Democrz ic Opposition’ in St. Petersburg /INTERFAX] Economic Issues Russia: Nonpayments Grow as Defaulters Wait for Election Results [SEGODNYA | Jun] Russia: Central Bank Announces Convertibility of Ruble /[TAR-TASS] Russia: Banks Continue To Fall By the Wayside [IZVESTIYA 29 May] Russia: Agrarians Claim Russian Poultry Farming Near Collapse ([SEGODNYA 4 Jun] UKRAINE International Affairs Ukraine: Shmarov: Russia, U.S. Pully Stand by Trilateral Declaration /INTERFAX] Ukraine: Shmarov, Perry Visit Former Missile Base, Sign Agreement [UNIAN] Ukraine: Commentator Views NATO Expansion issues /HOLOS UKRAYINY 30 May] Ukraine: Peace Shield-96 Exercises Open in Lvov Region /UNIAN] Ukraine: Greenpeace Holds Conference in Kiev on Nuclear Issues /UKRINFORM] Ukraine: Foreign Minister Leaves for Berlin; Stops Over in Poland [Kiev International] FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 Central Eurasia eg yr arsuensd With Germany Over Return of Deportees Viewed /KJYEVSKIYE VEDOMOSTI Ukraine: National Bank Policy Document Viewed /ZERKALO NEDELI 25 May] WESTERN REGION Belarus: Minsk Reaffirms Nuclear Arms Withdrawal Schedule [INTERFAX] Belarus: Doubts Over U.S. Company's Ability To Destroy Rocket Silos /[BELAPAN] Belarus: Officials Cite Progress, Problems of CFE Commitments /BELAPAN] Belarus: Delegation Arrives To Coordinate Belarus-Russian Reforms /BELAPAN] Moldova Moldova: Magazine Comments on Sangheli’s Meeting With Dniester Leader /BASAPRESS] Moldova: Dniester Political Scientist Views Upcoming Elections /BASAPRESS]/ CENTRAL ASIA Kazakhstan Kazakhstan: Nazarbayev Comments on Southeast Asia Tour [INTERFAX] — West Wins Control of Kazakh Oil, Gold Reserves [London FINANCIAL TIMES 3 un 4 Kazakhstan: Nazarbayev Urges Parliament To Reconsider Pensions Bill /Almaty TV/ Kazakhstan: Article Views Formation of State Identity /KARAVAN-BLITS 30 May] CAUCASUS Georgia Georgia: Shevardnadze Interviewed on Relations With France /BG// er Abkhaz Government Supports Parliament Decree on Conflict /SAKHALKHO GAZETI 23 ay BALTIC STATES Estonia Estonia: Sweden Interested in Estonia's EU, WTO Accession /BNS/ Estonia: Swedish Trade Minister Notes Favorable Business Climate /BNS/ Estonia: Foreign Minister Departs for NATO Meeting in Berlin /BNS/ Estonia: Meri Regrets Disclosure of Confidential Letter to Clinton ;BNS/ Estonia: Official Concerned by Increase of Russian Arms Near Border /Tallinn Radio] FBIS-SOV-96-108 ( 4 June 1996 Russia: FBIS Presidential Election Report 3 Jun WA03062 35696 {[FBIS Report] This is the seventh in a series o FBIS reports on Russian regional developments in the campaign for the 16 June presidential election. I* is based solely on Russian media reporting from Moscow and provincial sources (see note 1). (Note 1) FBIS postal receipt of some Russian local media sources accounts for the dated nature of certain items cited. This FRIS media note presents the local media in the timeiiest manner possible, given procurement constraints. Regional Papers Suggest NE DAY BOG Circulation May "Backfire" on Yeltsin Regional media continue to censure the anti-communist newspaper supplement NE DAY BOG, which is published by Yeltsin's support group in Moscow, and to criticize Yeltsin's support groups for forcing anti-communist propaganda on the voting population. SOVETSKAYA SIBIR (29 May) contended ironically that NE DAY BOG has in fact succeeded in breaking voter apathy toward politics. Now, voters “argue until they get hoarse,” but many agree that NE DAY BOG has “backfired” on the Yeltsin campaign. NIZHEGORODSKAYA PRAVDA (25 April) reported that its editorial office had been “battered” with a “squall of telephone calls” in protest after NE DAY BOG was surreptitiously distributed with NIZHEGORODSKAYA PRAVDA. The paper reportedly requested that the local prosecutor launch an investigation of the incident. INTERFAX (27 May) reported that North Ossetian post offices stopped delivering NE DAY BOG. The move was a response to recommendations from the local electoral commission, which concluded that the post office's distribution of the supplement violated electoral laws that prohibit government-run organizations from conducting election campaigning. Novosibirsk Paper Criticizes Yeltsin Support Group SOVETSKAYA SIBIR (24 May) took umbrage with the Novosibirsk contingent of Yeltsin's support group for suggesting that voters who fail to back Yeltsin are ir- responsible. Yeltsin's support group in Novosibirsk held an oblast conference, during which it urged Novosibirsk voters to back Yeltsin, asserting that voters who “are pa- triots of our Motherland, believe in her great future, and are capable of a responsible vote” will “join us.” The newspaper, in turn, observed that “the way the question iS pul appears strange,” in that it impiies that “those who are not for Yeltsin will cast an irresponsible vote Genzharov Evinces Gloomy Outlook, Stumps for Yeltsin in Novosibirsk Oleg Gonzharov, State Duma PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ISSUES deputy and leader of “Siberian Lands,” a regional branch of the “Russia Is Our Home’ (NDR) bloc, urged voters to back Yeltsin in a 24 May VECHERNIY NOVOSIBIRSK article but appeared less than opti- mistic about Yeltsin's charces for success. Gonzharov characterized as a “tragedy” the democrats’ inability to settle their differences, adding that there is a “risk that Zyuganov and Zhirinovskiy—not Yeitsin— will face off in the second-round. If Yeltsin makes it to the second-round, Gonzharov assessed the chances that democrats will consolidate behind him as ‘50-50, surmising that even those who don't like Yeltsin may in the end vote for him. He warned that if the communists win in June, “the country will enter into a period of radical breakup and will roll back.” The Russian people must decide to make the “correct vote, he asserted—"the sooner, the better Novosibirsk Disco Rocks to Anti-Communist Rhythm SOVETSKAYA SIBIR (29 May) reported that for- mer Federation Council Chairman Vladimir Shumeyko had sponsored a gathering dubbed “Rock Against the Communists” at a Novosibirsk discotheque that in- cluded dancing and “intermittent agitation.” Sponsored by Shumeyko’s “Reforms—New Course” movement, the disco was festooned with placards featuring “quo- tations from Shumeyko's speeches” and Yeltsin cam- paign materials. According to the paper, the disc jockey attempted to rally the mostly youthful audience, shout- ing, “Are you for freedom?” to which the audience re- sponded, “Yes',” and “Are you against communism”, to which “several” responded both “Yes” and “No.” The event coordinators also offered patrons two packs of chewing gum and beer in exchange for their Komsomol badges and membership cards. Oleg Ryzhkov, member of “Reforms—New Course” and one of the organizers, denied that the group's goal was to promote Yeltsin but claimed it was merely to “warn the youth about the threat of the ascension of the communists Gorbachev Received Warmly in Rostov The Kabardino- Balkaria newspaper SEVERNYY KAVKAZ (No. 20, May) reported that Mikhail Gorbachev received a warm welcome during a recent visit to Rostov, but the voters’ interest seemed limited more to Gorbachev's past than to his future. The article, entitled “Gorbachev in the Role of King Lear,” reported that Gorbachev's meeting with voters was “not about the future, but about the past,” in that the majority of questions from the audience concerned the “bygone days” of the Soviet era. While Gorbachev discussed his Soviet experience “with enthusiasm,” he spoke “little” of his electoral plan, the newspaper observed. The article said it was “unfortunate” that “almost nothing” was said This report may contain copynghted maternal. Copying and dissemination 1s prohibited without permission of the copynght owners PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ISSUES of Gorbachev's platform and suggested that Gorbachev may be reassessing his own candidacy. Polls Yeltsin Edges Out Zyuganov Among Kaliningrad Vot- ers An opinion poll conducted by the Kaliningrad So- ciological Center in mid-May indicates that Yeltsin is slightly ahead of Zyuganoy among 1,130 respondents in that region. The results were published in the Rus- sian Baltic Fleet newspaper STRAZH BALTIKIY on 28 May. Respondents were asked to indicate their choice for president as of mid-May, although Interfax, which also reported the poll, added that one-third of the respon- dents said that their choice was not irreversible (data in percent): * Yeltsin...28 Zyuganov...26 Undecided...18 Yavlinskiy...12 Zhirinovskiy...8 Lebed...7 Against All...4 Fedorov...3 Russia: Details of Yeltsin's ‘Action Program’ Given MM0306130096 Moscow ROSSIYSKIYE VESTI in Russian | Jun 96 p 3 (Unattributed “Official” report: “Boris Yeltsin: My Pro- gram Is Not a Matter of Promises; It Is My Position”) {FBIS Translated Text} Russian President Boris Yeltsin has completed his trip to Perm. As during the pre- vious May visits to the regions he performed two tasks: electioneering, and work specific to the head of state. In Perm Boris Nikolayevich submitted his Ac- tion Program for the Period 1996-2000 (published to- day in ROSSTYSKIYE VESTI) and signed a tripartite agreement with Perm Oblast and Komi-Permyak Au- tonomous Okrug leaders on the demarcation of powers and areas of jurisdiction. Addressing the city’s public at Perm’s Cultural and Business Center yesterday, Boris Yeltsin outlined the main features of his election program. The president said that he completed work on it on Monday 27 May and signed it the same day. “My program is not a matter of election promises. It is a report on what has been achieved and a specific plan for upcom'ng work. My hard experience gives me the right and the confidence to say that this program will be implemented'” “You will not find vain promises or fine slogans in my program,” the head of state said. “It details everything that has been accomplished over the past five years and FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 also puts forward a plan of action for the next four years: what we will do, how we will live, and what modifications are needed in order to arrive for sure at our journey’s ultimate objective ofa calm, prosperous, and happy life for all Russia and all Russian citizens.” The program “is a document which is already being implemented in reality: It contains a specific answer to every specific question.” According to Boris Yeltsin, the fact that each point of the program has a specific appendix, targeted federal programs, draft laws, Russian presidential edicts, and government decrees is extremely important in his elec- tion program. “You must see the colon after each item of the program, which is followed by the work that needs to be done.” Over the pas: five years “the main thing has been achieved: We have succeeded in avoiding eco- nomic and social catastrophe.” Boris Yeltsin noted that during his tours of the country he has seen that everywhere “the shoots of normal life and normal work are starting to appear. A firm foundation has been laid for a rapid economic upturn.” He cited a number of concrete examples of those sectors where the slump has been overcome and a gradual upturn has begun. He was referring to housing construction, ferrous and nonferrous metallurgy, and defense enterprise conversion. “Over the past few years we have begv to forget what empty shelves are. The market is saturated. Now we have to fill people's purses,” the president said. Ac- cording to him, by 2000 inflation will have fallen to 5 percent a year, which will make it possible to halt the rise in prices, ensure prosperity for Russian families, boost the economy, and accumulate considerable cur- rency reserves. Boris Yeltsin is ~onfident that the ruble will become a hard currency and the economy will enter a phase of recovery with annual growth rates in excess of 4 percent. Then the president said that social policy must become one of the cornerstones of state policy. The “number one” issue is to implement a policy of boosting citizens’ real incomes, he said. The minimum pension is gradu- ally becoming equivalent to the minimum subsistence level. At the same time, the head of state pointed out, a new, fair system of calculating and paying pensions is being prepared. A work plan and specific instructions exist at local level to ensure that the Law “On Veterans” is fully implemented, he added. Speaking about holdups with the payment of wages and pensions, Boris Yeltsin stressed: “I will not rest until the situation has finally been normalized. It is a matter of principle.” This report may contain copynghted maternal. Copying and ¢2ssemination is prohibited without permission of the copynght owners FBIS-SOV -96-108 4 June 1996 The president's idea of switching to an hourly minimum wage soon, witich is included in the election program, could be considered sensational. Boris Yeltsin also touched on nonmaterial issues. Man does not live by bread alone, he stressed. A normal life means living in conditions of freedom, dynamic onward development, competition between ideas and opinions, the development of culture and art, and constant questing. Faith has returned to Russia: faith in God, and faith in our own efforts. "No one is now afraid of openly criticizing any boss, even the president himself. In fact the president suffers more than anyone,” he joked. Russia: Yeltsin’s Refusal of TV Debate Assailed MM0306 162596 [FBIS Report} Moscow SOVETSKAYA ROSSIYA in Russian on | June 1996 carries on page 8 a full-page unattributed feature entitled “Placard-Leaflet Prompted by the Reader. Boris Yeltsin: | Do Not Need Debates With Zyuganov.” The feature is accompanied by a photograph of Yeltsin holding a glass in his right hand and gesturing with his left hand. The text box that opens the feature declares that "B.N. Yeltsin's categorical refusal to take part in the live television debates proposed by G.A. Zyuganov without aides and consultants before the whole country demonstrates that the incumbent president and at the same time candidate for this post is panicking with fear at meeting with G. Zyuganov” and summarizes the reasons for his refusal, which are expanded and discussed in the main body of the text. The box highlights the phrases: “Yeltsin is panicking with fear at meeting with Zyuganov” and “Yeltsin is afraid of an open discussion with Zyuganov'” The text under the main headline “Boris Yeltsin: | Do Not Need Debates with Zyuganov” is divided into two sections. The first is headed “Yeltsin's Justifications Expose Him.” The reasons for refusing a television debate attributed to Yeltsin are as follows: “...1 do not need debates with Zyuganov"; “With my democratic outlook I cannot tolerate this demagoguery any longer”; "...There are many candidates but Russia has only one president”; “If I debate with everyone I simply will not have enough time to perform my direct presidential duties"; and “I was a Communist for 30 years and heard so much of this demagoguery..... SOVETSKAYA ROSSIYA responds to each of Yeltsin's reasons in turn. The second section is headed "What Demagoguery, Boris Nikolayevich?” It has three subsections with the subheads “Probably This,” “Or This,” “And Perhaps This,” each of which quotes from Yeltsin speeches: as a member of the CPSU Central Committee and first secretary of Sverdlovsk CPSU Oblast Committee at the PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ISSUES 26th CPSU Congress, then at the 27th CPSU Congress, and last at the 29th All-Union CPSU Congress. SOVET- SKAYA ROSSIYA offers no commentary on these quo- tations. Russia: Zhi. inovskiy Hopes Yeltsin Will Form Coalition Government L.D0406092996 Moscow INTERFAX in English 0856 GMT 4 Jun 96 {[FBIS Transcribed Text] MOSCOW, June 4 (Interfax) — Liberal Democratic Party leader Vladimir Zhiri- novskiy told Interfax Tuesday that Prime Minister Vik- tor Chernomyrdin promised he would organize a meet- ing with President Boris Yeltsir before the first round of presidential elections. Zhirinovskiy said he insisted on a personal meeting with Yeltsin “to convince him of the lack of any chances of winning the elections and even entering the second round.” Some 80 million Russians will attend the vote, but only 10 million-12 million of them will support Yeltsin and 30 million-35 million Communist Party leader Gennadiy Zyuganov, he said. Only the creation of a coalition government may heip Yeltsin secure re-election, he said. “If my reasons convince the president, the four of us — Yeltsin, Chernomyrdin, Zyuganov and me — will need to meet before the first round of elections,” Zhirinovskiy said. Zhirinovskiy said he would be unhappy with either Yeltsin or Zyuganov's victory, saying many voters shared his opinion. "To extinguish the terror before communists and democrats, a coalition government should be formed,” he said. Such a government could include virtually all of the present presidential contenders, he said. Zhirinovskiy proposed Yeltsin and Chernomyrdin retain their current posts, Zyuganov be appointed as first deputy prime minister for social issues, Yabloko party leader Grigoriy Yavlinskiy as deputy prime minister for economics, Mikhail Gorbachev as minister of labor. The coalition government could also include renown eye surgeon Svyatoslav Fedorov, retired general Aleksandr Lebed and prominent businessman Vladimir Bryntsalov. Zhirinovskiy said he would be happy with the post of justice minister or minister of propaganda, which would require the creation of a corresponding ministry. If Yeltsin rejects this proposal before the first round of elections, Zhirinovskiy will meet with Zyuganov once again on June 18, as they agreed at their meeting This report may contain copyrighted maternal. Copying and disseminaton is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ISSUES yesterday. "We will decide what to do next on the basis of the results of the first round,” he said. Russia: Zyvgnov on Election Campaign in Siberia L.D0306163296 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1614 GMT 3 Jun 96 {[FBIS Transcribed Text] MOSCOW, June 3 (Interfax) — Gennadiy Zyuganov, leader of the Russian Commu- nist Party and a presidential candidate, took his election campaign back to Siberia Monday afternoon. It will be his last large-scale tour before the June 16 presidential elections. According to the Communist Party Duma faction press office, on June 4 Zyuganov plans to meet with vot- ers in Novosibirsk and scientists from neighboring Aka- demicheskiy Gorodyk (Academic Town). He is sched- uled to visit Krasnoyarsk territory on June 5-6 and Omsk on Juse 7. Zyuganov is expected to return to Moscow Friday afternoon. Russia: Zyuganov Promises To Alter ‘Present Course’ LD0306194396 Moscow Russian Public Television First Channel Network in Russian 1750 GMT 3 Jun 96 (Election broadcast by Gennadiy Zyuganov, head of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, from the “Election 96" program — recorded] (FBIS Translated Excerpt] [passage omitted] [Zyuganov, addressing a meeting of young people] What are we proposing in order to rectify the situation? First, altering the present course. Like a ship, any state should know its bearings, should know where it is going. The course should be a clear purpose of its existence. The first purpose is ensuring the citizens’ well-being and putting an end to extinction in the country. Unless this task is tackled successfully, other tasks lose any real meaning. In order to achieve this, one has to understand clearly what the economy should be like, and suppor the goods producer. The country has to have a powerful State sector in the economy, which would make it possible to educate the young, to treat the old, to support the budget sphere, to ensure the citizens’ safety, and normai functioning of all the main institutions. In view of this, economic priorities have to be defined clearly. Nothing can be done without power engineer- ing. So then it is power engineering, it is high tech- nology. science, quality education accessible to practi- cally everyone, and accessible health care. This does not mean there should be no other forms. They should FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 exist, but they should complement rather than destroy what has really been created and implemented. The ratio between the state, collective. and private forms of ownership should be such tc allow them to compete and yet not suppress, but complement each other. This means that in our vast spaces the state has to regulate two highly important indices, namely fuel prices and transport charges and fares. Otherwise you cannot compete with anyone. We are eager to make sure that the money held in West- ern banks returns to Russia and starts wozking for our science, for the construction of roads and the infrastruc- ture, for the introduction of new technologies aad for putting into practice great discoveries. Therefore, we are considering adopting a law to assist the return of capital and its investment in the Russian economy on certain quite acceptable terms. I believe they [not clear who exactly Zyuganov is referring to} will show an in- terest in this. With regard to joint ventures and various forms of ownership, our manifesto says quite clearly: We will support all those who can work properly and efficiently, we will create legal and other guarantees for this [Zyuganov, addressing another meeting] Gorbachev's five years ended with humanitarian aid. Yeltsin's five years ended with the decimation of the economy, the war in Chechnya, and a universal extinction of Russia’s population. Another two or three years of these policies, and we will lose not just a collective or a state farm, not just a factory or an enterprise, but our Fatherland, the country that has been created by our ancestors over 1,000 years, that has been protected and defended by them — and they will just damn us for letting this happen. On the other hand, anyone who comes to power tomorrow will not have a nice present on his hands. To those who speak of winning the election, I say: there is no such thing as winning a victory in your own Fatherland. No one has ever won a victory over his own people. The one who comes [to power] and his team will have to deal with a most difficult aftermath; will have to show wisdom, courage, and restraint; and to pursue a policy in the interests of all the social strata. You are suggesting I should bang my fist. I, on the other hand, suggest that today one should have strong nerves, courage, a clear head, political will and an understanding of what is going on — then we will put them in their place without fail is report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copynght owners FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 Russia: Zyuganov Supporters Accuse Yeltsin of Breaking Campaign Law LD0406105496 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1044 GMT 4 Jun 96 (FBIS Transcribed Text] MOSCOW, June 4 (Interfax) — Representatives of the left-wing nationalist bloc supporting Communist leader Gennadiy Zyuganov’s presidential candidacy have accused incumbent Boris Yeltsin of breaking campaign law in an open letter to Central Electoral Commission Chairman Nikolay Ryabov. Chairman of the Duma Security Committee Viktor Ilyukhin (Communist) told a Tuesday press conference that “the presidential candidates are not on an even foot- ing. The voter watching television sees incumbent Boris Yeltsin 60 percent of the time, while a number of re- gional administration heads are running Yeltsin's cam- paign headquarters in their regions in blatant violation of campaign rules.” The results of the voting, Ilyukhin fears, will not reflect Russian opinion about this or that candidate. “The Communists are not afraid of the elections, because in honest and open elections, Gennadiy Zyuganov could win in the first round. "We are worried that the people’s will may be forged by someone’s evil hand,” he said. “Although Boris Yeltsin's rating has indeed risen re- cently, the gap between him and Gennadiy Zyuganov still exists and Yeltsin will not be able to catch up in the time remaining before elections,” Duma deputy Valentin Kuptsov (Communist) said at the press conference. “Gennadiy Zyuganov met with candidates Vladimir Zhirinovskiy and Svyatoslav Fedorov yesterday,” Kuptsov said. “The three candidates discussed the po- litical situation, the electorate’s mood, and agreed that the elections should be held, under any circumstances, on the appointed day — June 16." Zyuganov, Zhirinovskiy, and Fedorov decided to con- tinue their consultations through the first round and af- terwards, Kuptsov said, but admitted that it is “still hard to say” if a Zyuganov-Zhirinovskiy coalition is possible. If the Communists lose the elections, Kuptsov said, they will remain the opposition party. “The political fate of the Party and its leader Gennadiy Zyuganov will not end with the elections,” he said. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ISSUES Russia: Zyuganov Offers ‘Third Force’ Posts ip Coalition Government LD0406101996 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1002 GMT 4 Jun 96 (FBIS Transcribed Text] NOVOSIBIRSK, June 4 (In- terfax) — As a presidential candidate, Communist Party leader Gennadiy Zyuganov has publicly offered posts in “the government of popular trust" to “those who repre- sent the Third Force.” "You can view it as my official statement,” he said at a news conference in Novosibirsk on Tuesday. When asked where he will find the votes needed to collect 50 percent, he said: “we are negotiating intensively.” Russia’s “Third Force” refers to a much-talked about but as yet unrealized alliance among three or four of the Russian presidential candidates who claim to represent the interests of neither the ruling elites, nor the Communists. It includes Yabloko party leader Grigoriy Yavlinskiy, famous eye surgeon Viadis'°v Fedorov, and retired general Aleksandr Lebed. If the current Russian authorities find the results of the first round of presidential elections unsuitable to them and try to cancel the second round, the bloc of nationalist forces “will manage to secure the fulfilment of the people's will,” he warned. If 40-50 million people vote for him at the elections, Zyuganov said, “Yeltsin will surrender power.” He cast doubt on the authenticity of the ratings of presi- dential candidates published recently. “These ratings are obviously meant to exert pressure on puvodlic opinion and spur the election campaign,” Zyuganov said. Russia: Zyuganov, Zhirinovskiy Comment on Talk. LD0306163896 Moscow NTV in Russian 1500 GMT 3 Jun 96 [From the “Segodnya” newscast] (FBIS Translated Text} [Announcer Osokin] Zhiri- novskiy, the leader of the LDPR [Liberal Democratic Party of Russia], was in great demand today. He met Prime Minister Chernomyrdin. The details of the meet- ing are not yet known. Also today a meeting took place between Zhirinovskiy and Zyuganov, leader of the Com- munist Party [of the Russian Federation]. We have the details from the people at the meeting themselves — both from Zyuganov and Zhirinovskiy. [Begin Zhirinovskiy recording] The question of forming a coalition was not discussed, but naturally it was foreseen at the meeting that the question of forming a coalition might arise if events in the country took is report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ISSUES a certain turn and the results of the first round were such and such. We are able to do this, to come to an agreement. Bre... [pauses] Yeltsin and Zyuganov and myself. And anyone else who wants to join is welcome. {ead recording} {Unidentified correspondent} Gennadiy Zyuganov avoided making any remark about an alliance with Vladimir Zhirinovskiy; however, he made it clear he would return to the subjec. after the first round of the presidential election. {Begin recording] [Zyuganov] Today we talked about how the first round was going. [Correspondent] You are going into the first round separately? (Zyuganov] Each along with his blo. {Correspondent} And the second round? [Zyuganov}] We will think about it and see. [end recording] {Osokin} Some representatives of the Liberal Demo- cratic Party of Russia had other reports to make about this meeting. They made it clear that it is indeed early to talk about forming an electoral coalition, but they said that there was mutual understanding at the meeting between Zyuganov and Zhirinovskiy. All this has lent weight to the new idea that Zyuganov is actively seeking allies, because he is losing the election campaign. True, the leader of the Communists says that it is nothing of the sort. Zyuganov fee's confident and says that journalists want to distort the picture and hide the Communist Party's successes. As usual, politicians want reports about themselves to be firstly affectionate and secondly extensive. Russia: Yavlinskiy Interviewed on Background, Beliefs, Issues 964F2277A Moscow SOBESEDNIK in Russian No 16-17, Apr 96 pp 10-11 {Interview with Grigoriy Yavlinskiy by Andrey Van- denko; place and date not given: “The Uncompromising Bridegroom” ] [FBIS Translated Text] | wanted to take some apples to the interview with me but I forgot to ask what kind Grigoriy Alekseyevich prefers. Or does he like them at all? And so I remain in ignorance... [Vandenko}] Grigoriy Alekseyevich, are you by any chance acquainted with Roman Viktyuk? {Yavlinskiy}] I have never had occasion to speak with him but, of course, I know him as a director. Roman FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 Grigoryevich is a fellow countryman of mine, from Lvov. {Vandenko] I asked because you came from the same city. Viktyuk once related to me an episode from his childhood. The windows of the school Roman Grigoryevich attended opened out onto a reception- distribution center. Viktyuk said tLat the sad gazes of the children from inside the fence remained with him for a long time and ended up as nightmares. For many years your father was in charge of the Lvov reception- distribution center, so was it not your father’s wards who made such an indelible impression on the sensitive Viktyuk? [Yavlinskiy] I do not know which years Roman Grigo- ryevich attended the Lvov school, but my dad started working in the reception-distribution center in 1962. Viktyuk was probably beyond school age by that time... {Vandenko] But as I understand it, in 1962 you were in school. Did the eyes from the other side of the fence not make an impression on you? [Yavlinskiy] Why from the other side of the fence? | had a lot of communication with these children, I grew up among them. My father wanted that. After all, he was a homeless child himself, a ward of Makarenko. My father loved children very much and devoted his entire life to them. He worked at the Lvov reception- distribution center until 1981, when he died. Before that, up until 1962 my father worked at a women’s colony for minors. I frequently visited this colony, and my facher especially told me to play with the girls there. My father frequently brought the kids from the reception center to our home. On New Year's we usually packed in 20 or 30 boys and girls. And it worked out fine. We managed to fit them in, and nobody was offended. My father had extremely simple and candid relations with all the children. To be sure, this sometimes caused problems with the management. My father’s job was to sort out the runaways who had been caught: Some were returned to their parents, others were sent to a specialized boarding school, and still others, who had managed to get into serious trouble, were sent to the colony. Dad would not allow any kind of escorts or supervisors and therefore he frequently sent them home alone. Some of them went their own way, they were caught again, and they put the screws to my father. I remember one 12-year-old boy who ran away from Novosibirsk three times. The young traveler had a specific goal: to cross the boarder, to get to Germany, to settle down there and grow up as a Soviet spy. Our border guards caught the chap twice and the third time it was necessary to contact the Poles, since the boy had managed to slip through the cordon. My father tried to This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copynght owners FBIS-SOV -96-108 4 June 1996 reach an agreement with the future intelligence officer, he sent him back to his parents, who were scientists at the Siberian Akademgorodok, and he tried to persuade the boy not to do anything else stupid, but after a couple of months it all happened all over again. My father received a severe reprimand and the next time the persistent Siberian ran away he was threatened with being fired for incompetence. Theoretically my father could have sent the boy either to a boarding school or to an insane asylum, but instead of this he signed a document in which dad gave his party word of honor that he would do everything he could to get the lad into an intelligence school after he had completed 10 years of education. My father again sent the boy to Novosibirsk by himself, but he left, taking with him the paper with the two signatures. He never showed up in Lvov again. And that is not the only case like this. There were tragic episodes. One time a boy my father sent to the Kiev distribution center was refused admission there and was sent back since he promised my father that he would not become a vagrant. Unfortunately the boy did not return to Lvov, he was thrown off the train by some convicts or something. My father was accused of the boy's death. But dad did not change his attitude toward the kids, he valued their confidence. {Vandenko] And did all these people not treat you as the boss's son? [Yavlinskiy}] They accepted me as an equal. There was nothing special about me: Our interests were the same, I was dressed like all the rest of them—army trousers, padded jackets... One time I had a serious conversation with the most hard-boiled of the residents of the reception center. They admitted to me that they would have run away long ago were it not for my father. They would have jumped over the fence, they would have hit the first person they met on the head with a brick to knock him out, they would have taken his money and clothing, and then they would have been out of there. I was proud of the fact that such “heroic” kids respect my father and because of him they do not run away. Theoretically my father could have gotten rid of all of them the day after they arrived, but frequently he would keep a child for several months to give him a little respite. After all, many of them had run away from bad families and this seemed like a health resort to them. The atmosphere in the reception center was always humane, it was nothing like a jail or a prison zone. My father brought in outstanding teachers and educators and when in 1980 the Central Committee Politburo adopted a decision to change the jurisdiction of the PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ISSUES reception center, placing it under the Department of Internal Affairs, dad objected sharply. The educators were replaced by soldiers, they started locking people up, and there were also other punishments. My father could not put up with this situation and he went to Kiev and went around to all the offices, but of course he was not able to persuade anyone to change their minds. It all ended when my father died... {(Vandenko] Is it true that Makarenko predicted a difficult destiny for your father? [Yavlinskiy] That is not the half of it! Anton Semen- ovich did not give my father the slightest chance of improving, thinking that his past life had ruined him to such a degree that there could be no changes for the better. In the commune my father was included among the incorrigibles, it was recommended that the children of the teachers not even communicate with my father so that they would not come under his evil influence. But my father ended up as the only student of Anton Semen- ovich who continued his work and worked with difficult adolescents. My father recalls quite well how he grew up to be who he was and understood what Makarenko had done for him. My father was a self-made man. I loved and respected him immensely. Dad never scolded me and never punished me. One thing he could not forgive was if I offended my mother. I could expect no mercy then. In general my father was, as they say, strict, but fair. {Vandenko] They say that he forced you to study the Ukrainian language. [Yavlinskiy}] Do you want to test me? After all, I studied in an English-Ukrainian school. My father believed that you could not live in Ukraine and accept Ukrainian hospitality and not know the language. At home we spoke Russian and at school Ukrainian. Incidentally, | am very grateful for this. [Vandenko}] You studied in a Ukrainian school but you did not finish there. [Yavlinskiy] No, I left in the ninth grade but I completed evening Ukrainian school, so there is no real difference. And I rejected regular day school for the simple reason that I physically could not handle all the subjects that were taught to us. There were 30 or 40 of them! "Ip to the ninth grade I was a good student, although I had the reputation of a student, let us say, with free views. I could “lose” my journal, hide all the inkwells in the class—in general, you understand. In the senior grades I calmed down, but in order to continue to succeed I would have had to study 24 howrs a day. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ISSUES Imagine studying something like astronomy or biology in English. It was clearly too much. I decided that I would start what I wanted to, and therefore at some point I left school. [Vandenko} How did your parents feel about your decision? [Yavlinskiy} At home they felt that it was the end of the world. Mama was categorically against it, but I stood my ground. I went to look for work. Nobody wanted ‘o hire me—after all I was only 14 years old. Somehow I managed to get a job in the Lvov Post Office. At 0500 I took the bags of mail for the organizations and hauled them around the city. True, the next day they started to scaid me because many of the letters were mixed up and had gone to the wrong addresses. The mail for the patriarchate ended up in the bathhouse and the mail for the bathhouse went to the oblast committee... That was not my fault, I was not the one who sorted the letters into the bags, but all the complaints fell on my head. I remember that in the Lvov-Ternopol patriarchate they asked me: “Boy, how come we can return the letters that were sent to the bathhouse to you unopened, while our mail which has ended up in other hands has always been opened when you bring it to us?” What could | say? In a word, I left the post office after deciding that this was not a job for a real man. I went to the leather haberdashery factory. I was given the job of stamping out blank pieces for future handbags. The earnings of all the old ladies who worked on the conveyer line depended on my skilis. On the first day they gave me encouragement when they saw Low I was botching things up, on the second shift they were silent, and on the third day, by dinner time I had managed to produce only one blank form for 50 workers and a scandal broke out. They drove me out. I went to my father and with his influence I became an apprentice to a fitter in a glass plant, where I worked until entered the institute. True, we did not tell mama that my father had helped me get this job. Mama was still hoping that I would return to school. My father helped me a great deal in life. He was a completely free, emancipated human being who acted only in accordance with his own ideas of honor and dignity. Incidentally, one time my father told me a story that was like a parable. There was a person living on earth with yellow skin, and everyone thought he had hepatitis and gave him the best treatment available. And when the person died it turned out that he was a Chinaman... I remembered this story, and since that time I have wondered many times whether or not my projects to improve life in Russia were not attempts to change the color of the Chinaman’'s skin. FBIS-SOV-96- 108 4 June 1996 [Vandenko}] And what conclusion do you come to? {Yavlinskiy] That I am really not dealing with “China- men.” Thus there is the hope that my efforts will not be in vain. [Vandenko] So far you have had what it takes to reach the post of deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers of Russia. The sign near the window indicating this position must remind you of the heights you have reached? {Yavlinskiy} Which heights are you talking about? The pinnacle is the victory over inflation, a real improvement of the standard of iiving, conversion of the Russian ruble in practice, the ability of domestic goods to compete as equals with imported goods. This is the level and the nameplate—that is just self-indulgence. People do noi remember posts and positions, they remember aciiuns. [Vandenko] And what do you intend to be remembered for? {Yavlinskiy} I have already told you what I mean by real victories: Briefly—they mean the elimination of poverty in Russia. It is another matter when my plans will be realized. A great deal depends on the results of the presidential elections. [Vandenko] What are your prospects? [Yavlinskiy) I am counting on winning. Did you really expect any other answer from a candidate for president? [Vandenko] Let us say that you made it to the Kremlin. How much time would you ask the people to give you to Carry out what you have planned? About 500 days? [Yavlinskiy] We will eliminate inflation in three years and then the Russian national currency will be com- pletely convertible. In general we will crawl out of the hole within one generation. Then we will look back at these times arid be impressed: Was it really possible for the mafia to run rampant and for the economy to collapse comp/etely? [Vandenko] Are you speaking of the generation whose representatives are in kindergarten today? [Yavlinskiy} No, those who are now 30 or a little older. [Vandenko] Grigoriy Alekseyevich, are you sympathetic to Manilov, who specialized in building castles in the air? [Yavlinskiy}] Do you remember what Martin Luther King said? "I have a dream.” Well, I have a dream, too. [Vandenko} In my view, dreaminess is not the best feature for a serious politician. S report may hed SQ pee is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV -96-108 4 June 1996 [Yavlinskiy] I would not say that. In any case, it has not hindered me so far. The fact is that we all have the image of politicians as...narrow-minded. {Vandenko] And what else should it be? [Yavlinskiy) This attitude toward politicians in our country has taken hold particularly with the easy hand of Mikhail Sergeyevich. He really loved to keep saying that politics is the art of the possible. That is completely wrong. In fact politics is aspiring to the impossible and therefore achieving the possible. You will never know whether or not the ruble will be convertible if you do not set the task of doing this. Our nation will never get up from its knees and will never straighten its shoulders if we continue to be satisfied with less and do not strive to enter the world elite within the lifespan of a single generation. [Vandenko] I agree. But still the tasks must be feasible. Have we not had enough of people like the corn lover who promised communism by 1980? [Yavlinskiy) You will agree that communism and a stable national currency are two different things. The former is simply a myth, the latter exists in practice in two or three dozen countries of the world, throughout all of Europe. I am convinced that discussions of the art of the possible is the domain of fools. [Vandenko] You have asked for 500 days for your program for reforming the Soviet economy, but today for a normal life you need 30 years. Where is the guarantee that if you get into power you will not again adjust your plans in the direction of increasing the time periods. [Yavlinskiy] The "SOO days” program did not promise prosperity in a year-and-a-half. It was a system of measures necessary for emerging from the approaching crisis. Today the situation is fundamentally different. But it is absolutely necessary to follow a plan, a system of actions. Perhaps not for a year and a half (500 days) but for two or two and a half, but that is a technical matter. My dream is to pull Russia out of the gutter. And I will do this. [Vandenko} Incidentally, about your taking over power. All serious experts agree on one thing: Only the candidate of united democratic forces can oppose the leader of the Communists. But I understand that there are problems with such a candidate and many are inclined to accuse you of being intractable. {Yaviinskiy] Everyone has known for a long time that any step Yaviinskiy takes is a “blow to the spine of democracy.” PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ISSUES [Vandenko] If you were to accept and reach an agree- ment with, for example, Gaydar, then perhaps they would look at you differently. [Yavlinskiy} I have sworn off talking about my relations with Gaydar. [Vandenko] Then let us talk about you some more. What about the opinion of those who, to put it mildly, do not like you very much. {Yavlinskiy} Alright, there are such people. {[Vandenko}] Do you think there are not very many of them? [Yavlinskiy} | can only guess abou: their existence. The press provides information. It is impossible to meet publicly with my detractors. So far there has not been a case in which anybody would openly enter into a debate with me. Everything is done behind my back. This is a style of life and behavior. That is why all the negative letters are always anonymous. [Vandenko] But you are probably a+vare of the names of your most influential detractors. {Yavlinskiy] Are you hinting at somebody specifically? {Vandenko}] For example, the people who support the president like Korzhakov. {Yavlinskiy} Get out of here! Why should he waste his energy on his dislike for me when nearby he has an object of positive emotion? By virtue of his official duties, Korzhakov can love only person—his president. And that is as it should be. Incidentally, Aleksandr Vasilyevich handles his immediate duties very well— as I understand it, the president is always completely safe in the physical sense. Which, incidentally, cannot be said about his political safety. But it is in the hands of other people who might even be dissatisfied with Aleksandr Vasilyevich, but in vain—they would be better minding their own business and not giving the president any stupid advice. [Vandenko] But still, following your logic, Korzhakov, who loves his president, should not inspire any warm feelings in you. {Yavlinskiy] Just me? This applies to everyone... Even you are a potentially dangerous type for him. Who knows you? [Vandenko] But unlike you, I am not walking on the same road as Korzhakov. [Yavlinskiy] Neither will I, since I am not walking to the Kremlin. They have their wedding and I have mine. is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 10 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ISSUES [Vandenko] I will give you that. But I promised to talk about the opinion of your enemies—anonymous, I agree, who reproach you for the fact that Yavlinskiy, they say, has created a political capital on level ground: He is not famous for any scholarly developments, he is not known for his practical affairs either, he has not been involved in real power, with the exception of a brief period as deputy chairman, in a word, the only thing to his credit is the "SOO days,” which to many people is half myth. [Yavlinskiy} Yes, | admit that I am not a Nobel prize winner in the area of economics, nor can I be like Zyuganov or Rybkin and defend doctoral dissertations in parallel with political activity. That is inappropriate. On the other hand, I am basically satisfied with what my colleagues and I have done in economics and in practice. For example, during the past five years we have published monographs in Russia and in many countries of the world. Further, I have spent eight years—from 1984 to 1992— in management structures of the Council of Ministers. Is that not enough? Or perhaps I should have been in charge of a construction trust and then I would have been recognized as a practical worker? I did not come through the ranks of laboratory chiefs to be prime minister or from the ranks party secretaries. [Vandenko] Laboratory chief—I understand that is Gay- dar, but a party boss—is that Yeltsin? [Yavlinskiy] I have already told you everything I have to say about Gaydar, and as for Boris Nikolayevich, he, of course, has managed to be in charge. Yeltsin has spent five years as president already. And every two years some disturbances break out in the country and increase the number of citizens who have died in connection with political events. In 1991 there were three at the White House, in 1993—hundreds, and in 1995 the account was increased to tens of thousands in Chechnya. And what next—in 1997 will we bury millions? That kind of political experience I do not need. {[Vandenko] Incidentally, how do you feel about dis- cussions to the effect that Russia is better off without Grigoriyev? After all, the country has lived through both Otrupyev and Rasputin... [Yaviinskiy) One might think that Russia has been very lucky with Borises! (Allow me to clarify that I am speaking about Godunov.) But was our country lucky to have Leonids? Or Viadimirs? Or perhaps losifs? Give me the names! Gena? If only the Khazans?... With Grigoriys, you see, we have been unfortunate... Let us also remember Mishkas. FBIS-SOV -96-108 4 June 1996 {Vandenko} Incidentally, this is an interesting topic. Perhaps there would be some point in conducting a sociological study to scientifically determine the name of the leader who would bring success to Russia? [Yavlinskiy) The Grigoriys never ruled Rus’. They hovered around power, but they were never at the head of the country. {Vandenko} What do you think, will the national affili- ation of the presidential candidate be very important in the forthcoming elections? [Yavlinskiy] We will see what the voters say. Up to the present day, it seems to me, the candidate's nationality has been of absolutely no significance to the voters. What will happen tomorrow—we shall see. [Vandenko]} Do you think that anyone will start to play the anti-Semitic card? [Yavlinskiy] I think it is possible. But right on television I have been asked about my religious convictions and about my parents. I said that I had seen how highly placed people in the church hold the candle as if it were a cup. This seemed to me to be the height of hypocrisy. Since that time I decided not to talk about my faith. Suffice it to know that I am a Christian. Concerning my mother, I answered directly that she is a Jew, and my father, that he is a Russian. | said that I very much loved my parents and the country in which I was born and live. [Vandenko} And what do you consider to be your nationality? {Yavlinskiy} I was raised in only one culture—Russian. But I will say this: For those who hate the Tatars, | am a Tatar, for those who hate Russians—I am a Russian, for the anti-Semites—I am a Jew. I am a person and a citizen of Russia. Incidentally, you know that Aleksandr Lebed was reg- istered as a Jew. {Vandenko} Yes, Aleksandr Ivanovich told me that a certain Bunich asserts that Lebed’s real name is Shvanner. [Yavlinskiy] If they try to play the Jewish card against Lebed, what then will they say to me? [Vandenko] One time you carelessly let it slip that if you were defeated in the elections you would look for a place for yourself in other regions. For a long time after that you were tormented because of this phrase. Anyway: Would you leave the country? {Yaviinskiy] It was unfortunate that I said that, and Oleg Puptsov (ex-chairman of the VGTRK—Ed.) attributed to me words I did not say. : — heed a7 es is prohibited without permission cf the copynght owners. FBIS-SOV -96- 108 4 June 1996 [Vandenko] You are frequently asked about who besides yourself would be worthy of the position of president of Russia. You answer that nobody would. Do you really believe that the only suitable person on earth is Grigoriy Alekseyevich? {Yavlinskiy] A ridiculous situation! Why should | see anyone else in the position of president? Imagine a bridegroom going to the registry office. He is met at the door by journalists who ask the question: Who else beside yourself could you recommend in the role of bridegroom foz your future wife? Of course, nobody! Now you will say that I have too high an opinion of myseif. It is not thai. There is no other way to answer today! {Vandenko] And if for some reason you were not to make it to the second round. Who would you support? {Yavlinskiy} You understand, this question can be discussed only after the first round. Do you have children? {Vandenko] Two sons. {Yavlinskiy} I have two sons as well. So we have something in common: To whom can we entrust the future of our children? I made a choice. That is why I'm participating in this presidential campaign. Like any normal father, I think about my children and I want them to live a happy life in their native country. Things are not working so well up to now. My elder son graduated from the Physics Department of Moscow State University, but he has no job. He tried to work in business, he worked in a bank, but he did not like it and left. Now he is studying again, learning the English language. [Vandenko] And what if your son were to come to you with the question: Should he go abroad or stay here? {Yavlinskiy] ht is bad to live abroad alone—that is what I would tell him. [Vandenko] Perhaps he would not live alone—he could take his family. {Yavlinskiy) It is not a matter of family. There every- thing is alien—the country, the life, the people. We can- not live there, we cannot leave our native graves. | know that for certain. I could be even more definite in my speeches were it not for the risk of being misunderstood. You know, when sincerity becomes stupidity? This happens as soon as you become too candid with people who have ceased to understand you or are incapable of understanding you in the first piace. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ISSUES That is a problem. The main thing is to be honest, it is important for people to believe you and not get the feeling that you have something to hide. {[Vandenko}] Every candidate for president fills out a declaration of his income. Are you prepared to make public how much you earned last year? {Yavlinskiy] If necessary, I will publish a declaration. I have no secrets like that. I do not have my own car, I use the official Volga from the Duma every other day, I never have had and do not have my own dacha... [Vandenko] Do you have the use of an official dacha? [Yavlinskiy} I rented one in March of this year for the election campaign. Let me continue: I have never received an apartment from the state. I lived for many years in the two-room apartment of my mother-in- law and father-in-law in the most ordinary five-story building. In 1987 we exchanged it for a three-room one, where we live to this very day with 43 square meters. My wife's parents used to have a car and I loved to ride in it, but then came the time to buy furniture and we had to sacrifice our Zhiguli. We have never had a lot of money and there have been times when we have not had a penny in our pockets. But wealth is not for us, although in recent years we have gotten by and now we are not poor as compared to the majority of people in our country. [Vandenko}] As a presidential candidate, you have probably been assigned bodyguards. But is there a guard for your family? [Yavlinskiy] So far neither I nor my family have guards. [Vandenko] Have there been threats? [Yavlinskiy] I will not discuss that subject. [Vandenko] Do you feel there is an information block- ade around you? [Yavlinskiy] Undoubtedly. But I am counting on the fact that people are familiar with my views and the voters will make a decision about whom to vote for irrespective of how frequently the candidates appear on television. Everything is also known about my major opponents, Zyuganov and Yeltsin, and therefore the choice among us will be of a different quality than in America, where the fate of Clinton or Dole can be decided by their wearing a tie of the wrong color. is report may contain is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. —— Sr yp po 12 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ISSUES [Vandenko] Do you have a special presidential calendar "From Korzhakov" which goes in reverse and life ends on 30 June? {Yaviinskiy} Why should I have that calendar? My life is not ending. Whatever the outcome after 16 June, everything will be just beginning. Russia: Analysis Center Poll Shows Yeltsin in Leaa LD0306175596 Moscow Radio Rossii Network in Russian 1700 GMT 3 Jun 96 (FBIS Translated Text] Dmitriy Olshanskiy, director of the Institute for Strategic Analysis and Prognosis, told a news conference today that Boris Yeltsin is confidently holding first place, according to his center’s polls. The current president has 9.16 points on the 10-point scale. Gennadiy Zyuganov still ranks second with 8.61. They are followed by Vladimir Zhirinovskiy, Aleksandr Lebed, and Grigoriy Yavlinskiy who have not collected even seven points. The ratings of Svyatoslav Fedorov, Martin Shakkum, and Mikhail Gorbachev are within the range of four to five points. Ratings of other candidates are lower than that. Russia: Yeltsin Trails Zyuganov in Bashkortostan MM0406084096 Moscow IZVESTIYA in Russian 30 May 96 p2 [Article by Andrey Vasilyev and Maksim Krans of IZVESTIYA Analysis Center and Viktor Skvortsov of SOVETSKAYA BASHKIRIYA: “Provinces: 17 Days To Go Before the Elections. Peasant Voters From Bashkiria’s Heartland Want To Say Something to the President” ] {FBIS Translated Excerpt] Village of Nikolayevka- Tuymazy-Ufa-Moscow — Without pausing for breath after the flight to Chechnya, the president set off for Bashkortostan. You would think that his reception there would be duly cordial and that he would be assured of full support. However, he should take stock of the unofficial side of matters, of the real state of affairs during this trip. For example, when addressing workers of the “Alekseyevskiy” vegetable-growing sovkhoz he should bear in mind the fact that it is the Communists who are most popular among peasants in the republic. A May poll of the inhabitants of Baskortostan’s villages produced the following figures: 39.2 percent of voters intend to vote for Zyuganov; 17.5 percent for Yeltsin; and 22.6 percent still have not made up their minds (in the republic as a whole: 33 percent are for Zyuganov; 23 percent for Yeltsin; and 21 percent are undecided). The majority in favor of Zyuganov are former supporters of the “Agrarians.” [passage omitted] FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 Russia: Chernomyrdin Interviewed on Economy, Presidential Elections MM0306211296 Moscow KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA in Russian 4 Jun 96 p 3 {Interview with Russian Prime Minister Viktor Cher- nomyrdin by Aleksandr Gamov; place and date not given: “Viktor Chernomyrdin: *..Enough of Up- heavals!""] {(FBIS Translated Text] [Gamov] Viktor Stepanovich, my friends, and our fellow countrymen the inhabitants of Orenburg, often ask me: What has happened to Cher- nomyrdin? Why has he retreated into the background’ Surely he hasn't retired? Sometimes it even seems to me that you have seriously changed following our last meeting in December.... {Chernomyrdin} This is an illusion. I am still the same as I was before. It is just that I am more rarely to be seen on television. And after all, | am not a television personality, but the prime minister. The government is today perhaps more than ever before involved in its proper work — the economy, production, the social sphere. And there is no point in muddling things.... {Gamov] Actually, I had intended to start our conversa tion with something else — the election campaign which has now been launched. Viktor Stepanovich, how much energy and money we are blowing on it' Al! the ume we are choosing and choosing something.... No one is working, everyone is waiting for upheavals. Will our economy withstand this kind of democracy” [Chernomyrdin] Are you trying to provoke me? Or are you opposed to the election? I agree — during such large-scale public-political campaigns an enormous amount of energy and money is diverted. But this is necessary. The significance of the upcoming presidential election cannot be overestimated. Remember all the different forecasts the press was making, saying the president does not need this election, he will either cancel it or postpone it. Nothing of the sort has happened and nothing will happen. And I am very giad that all these “forecasts” failed to come true. The president does need this election. And so does Russia Will our economy withstand democracy? It will. Be- cause they have come from the same stable. {Gamov] But still: What will happen to it in August? | mean the economy. In recent weeks both the president and the premier have been making optimistic statements to the effect that a “small upturn” has taken shape. But people dc not really feel that. I have traveled around is report may contain copyrighted matenal. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 many cities with Boris Nikolayevich, and almost every- where, and this includes in our area, he is criticized. And fairly strongly. [Chernomyrdin] I know. i would not like my words to be received as “canvassing,” but I will say the following. At the end of last year the government determined the following top-priority task for itself: To ensure that 1996 is the year the economy starts to grow, the living standard improves, and investments grow. Then we came to the conclusion that this is not just possible, but attainable. That is how we are made — we quickly become accustomed to good things. For example: From January to May of this year the rate in the rise of prices has been steadily falling. According to our estimates, it should be about 1.5 percent in May. The figure will be just under 30 percent for the year as a whole. By and large this is an impressive result. If we analyze this, we have not just come near a financial stabilization of the economy, but we have essentially already entered this situation. If we stay within these parameters for another three or four months, investments will appear and a growth will begin. {[Gamov] You are talking as though you were afraid of something. What is it exactly — undesirable results in the election? {Chernomyrdin} That is not the only issue. Keeping the economy in the state of shaky equilibrium in which we can expect to remain for some time yet, will require an enormous amount of work even if the election has a favorable outcome for us. First of all, we have to implement the budget no matter what. Today we are lagging behind both in terms of income and expenditure. There are heaps of problems, it simply makes your head spin. A tax shortfall, nonpayments, arrears in wages in the non-budget sphere, the disorder in the mechanism for payment transactions and barter.... There are indeed plenty! But every cloud has a silver lining, as they say. We have all gotten down to eliminating the budget arrears in wages and pensions. We seem to have ‘rted it out. But that is not the only good thing. W wen we were solving these problems, we essentially started to build a new mechanism, step by step, both for financial relations and financial discipline. And what is particularly noteworthy is that we are experiencing a gradual change in the whole of economic policy toward the support of production and the domestic producer. This is the viewpoint from which we should look at the decision to regulate the currency rate, the Russian president's edict on tax policy, and the steady PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ISSUES 13 “piecework" in dealing with the major culprits who are not paying into the budget. Literally a few days ago, the government solved the problem of two World Bank loans — for the coal sector and for facilities in the infrastructure. We are preparing proposals on the reform of the social sector. And of course our special concern now is the concept of the 1997 budget. Those, to put it briefly, are the tasks which we are poring over at the moment. They are difficult. But the very fact that we have gotten down to dealing with them at long last shows that we are beginning to make progress. {Gamov] Viktor Stepanovich, does it not seem to you that your own conclusions are too optimistic? [Chernomyrdin] No, it does not. You are skeptical because you are a journalist. Even a year ago the stimulation of investments and support for production were spoken about in the future tense, “in the category of the long term.” Today these ideas are being put into practice. At the end of 1995 compensation for savings and the protection of investors were also spoken about in the conditional: It would be a good thing if.... But today what is the government asking? Where, who, what, and why have they not done it? I could give a lot of examples. Is it not obvious that before we were surviving, whereas now we are alive. Isn't there a difference? {[Gamov] In that case let us return to the question “of Chernomyrdin’s resignation.” This is being raised a little too often, from the lips of certain politicians, from the pages of newspapers.... Why do you think that is? [Chernomyrdin] Why are you asking me this? Ask the politicians and your colleagues. Although, you know, it makes me feel quite good that my post is so desirable. Two or three years ago no one wanted it. Not only that, there were times when you could not drag indispensable and useful people into the government. But now.... This means that something has changed in our work, we have advanced. And we have advanced in a pretty good direction. {Gamov] Nevertheless, many people, even in the presi- dent’s camp, are urging Boris Nikolayevich to “surren- der” such a major figure as Chernomyrdin to the oppo- sition. Are you personally prepared for resignation — psychologically and mentally? [Chernomyrdin] You know the frankly extremely diffi- cult position that I have been in during all the years of my premiership. A long time ago I adopted the rule to work without looking at the “looming dismissal,” wor- rying whether it will come or not. Good luck to it! I Fete She enpll ie apr gen ae ghana is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners, 14 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ISSUES simply cannot work in that atmosphere, I cannot cut myself in two. I am used to being trusted and being re- sponsible for the results of my labor. I am very happy that I work that way with the Russian president. He has never tried to tie my hands. We sit down, have a talk, decide what needs to be done — and start doing it! {Gamov] What about the “exchange” which is being foisted upon the president: We give you “Yabloko” and you give us the premier’s post.... {Chernomyrdin} The point is not whether I will be exchanged or not. I cannot be exchanged. I am not a pawn that you can treat like that. I can determine my own fate. I am a realist and I understand that nothing lasts forever. I will have to go sometime. But if I saw before me a worthy candidate who knew his way around politics, economics, our life, 1 would give him my post straight away. Why get in the way? That is not within my rights. But what do we see: People criticize, they say, you shouldn't do this , you shouldn't do that.... So what should you do? They have nothing to say. Their attitude is, when we come to power we will show you how you should work. Some people have been harping on about the same thing for three years now. I say, the government door is not closed — come in and work! I meet everyone, I listen to everyone. But so far no one has suggested anything sensible. This is playing a joke on the public: Saying a great deal, promising things, and then deceiving people once more. We have had enough deceit! By and large there are a great many contradictions and even plenty of populism in the contenders’ election platforms. {Gamov] The other day Boris Yeltsin's program was also published; it too contains a number of “specific promises.” Voters might say: Both the president and the government made many promises before too, but not all that they promised was delivered. Why, they might say, should we believe Boris Nikolayevich this time? In short, is the president's election program capable of fulfillment? And if so, to what extent? in} What do you mean — “capable of “? It is already being fulfilled. Just pick up read the president's edicts for the past month — purely social edicts, the economic edicts, the edicts of regional significance, and the so-called targeted — — edicts. I will not list them all, I will only that they accord with the president's program mt by point by point. FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 But this is not the most important thing. The edicts are working! On almost every one of them — whether it concerns the defense or the agrarian sector — the government has been given specific instructions and allocated resources. But why do you smile? I think that this is exactly what the election program of the incumbent head of state should be — energetic. {Gamov] But the outcome of the presidential elections does not depend on programs alone. Society is deeply interested in the swift solution of the Chechen crisis. As the leader of the State Commission for a Settlement in the Chechen Republic, how do you see the solution to the prevailing situation? [Chernomyrdin] The president met with representatives of the opposing side in Moscow and visited the “hot spot” himself. Incidentally, I wish to remark that we do not view these talks as a conversation between victors and vanquished. We have a clear position. Chechnya is a part of Russia, and the political aspect of relations between them is the subject for future discussion. In Moscow specific issues were discussed: the exchange of prisoners, the creation of the necessary conditions for rebuilding the economy and social sphere in Chechnya. Many things are being done in this sphere right now. The other day, in accordance with the decision of the State Commission for a Settlement in the Chechen Republic, I signed a Russian Federation Government decree on the allocation of around 604 billion rubles to rebuild the Chechen economy and social sphere. Moreover, the bulk of these resources will go toward the solution of social problems: above all, the payment of wages and benefits and the creation of jobs. Our main task today is to improve people's lives. I am convinced that we will resolve the Chechnya problem. We will resolve it whatever the cost. Peace will come! {Gamov] Viktor Stepanovich, two weeks remain until the presidential elections. We are persuaded — and many people, I think, have already been convinced — that not only are we electing a president, but Russia is also choosing its destiny. But what is your personal choice? [Chernomyrdin] Hmm, a strange question. Though, if you think it over a little, we are choosing not only our own destiny, but also the future of our children and our grandchildren. Three reforms have been started in Russia this century, but not one has been finished. Right now the fourth is being carried out. We must at the very least complete it in a humane way. Today we have everything we need for this — the program, the people, and the resources. We have a president. And this is the president we need! To consolidate what we are doing 48 report may contain copyrighted maternal. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copynght owners. FBIS-SOYV -96- 108 4 June 1996 ili. And no more native Orenburg sy right now for the case for many vers have always own worth and rse, for our little meland as well — ch Yeltsin kesuion. May I? ‘nt times that given up yuganov does iss. Do you think titionally, will Although Boris ike every Russian erson. Who turn anything irink a little n back the k? Well then Russia: Seleznevy Rules Out CPRF-LDPR Accords Before 16 Jun IDO i, ? P ‘ 1h ] ANS r } ro MOSCOW ine 4 (Itar-Tass) Secleznev, a member PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ISSUES 15 of the Communist faction in the lower house of parlia- ment, ruled out any accords before the first round of the June 16 presidential elections between the Commu- nist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) [CPRF] led by presidential candidate Gennadiy Zyuganov and the Liberal-Democratic Party of Russia [LDPR] with Viadimir Zhirinovskiy at the head. Seleznev was commenting on the Monday meeting between the communist leader and the LDPR chief, both of whom are running in the presidential elections. Seleznev said he had not discussed the results of the meeting with Gennadiy Zyuganov and stressed that he fouad “quite natural” the process of consultations among all political forces which named their candidates for the presidential office. The KPRF leader, according to Seleznev, is an advocate of a government of popular accord capable of “alleviat- ing the presently existing disputes in society.” A government of that kind, should it be formed, must not be a one-party government, Seleznev said. He did not rule out that the arrangement was discussed at the Monday meeting between Zyuganov and Zhirinovskiy. Seleznev said that for the time being, all 11 candidates for the Russian presidency were advancing towards the first round of elections on June 16 “single-handedly,” without teaming up with any other contender. After the first round, the question will be not about one party compromising itself with an alliance with another party, but about “how to achieve public accord in society in real terms.” Al present, even President Yeltsin has begun to speak about a coalition government regarding it as “an oppor- tunity of ensuring a sort of concord in society,” Scleznev said. This report may contain copynghted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibrted without permission of the copynght owners 16 INTERREGIONAL AFFAIRS CIS: ITAR-TASS Carries Press Review for 4 Jun LD0406060496 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 0539 GMT 4 Jun 96 ["Press Review" — ITAR-TASS headline} [FBIS Transcribed Text] MOSCOW June 4 (Itar-Tass) — Follows a review of Tuesday’s Moscow-based Rus- sian newspapers dated June 4. The press continues to highlight Russia’s forthcoming presidential elections, due to be held on June 16. IZVESTIYA on the undecided proportion of the elec- torate. The newspaper runs the first instalment of an arti- cle headlined “A voice from the ‘swamp’” by Alek- sandr Vasinskiy. The writer of the article, leaving aside the zealous Zyuganovites and their obvious opponents, draws attention to a huge proportion of undecided peo- ple, the social stratum which is disparagingly referred to as ‘the swamp’. "Political scientists and sociologists may contemplate any kinds of combinations and coalitions, and this is of course important in the election-campaign estimates and forecasts. But a decisive success will be scored by those who would guess the frame of mind of ‘the swamp’, the politically non-engaged segment of society,” Vasinskiy points out. ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA on turnout in presidential elections. The newspaper carries an article by Lyudmila Var- tazarova, leader of the Socialist Party of the Working People. She writes that “more than 80 per cent of po- tential voters, i. e. more than 80 million citizens of our country want to decide themselves who will be Presi- dent of Russia.” ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA on Gennadiy Zyuganov’'s socio-economic programme. The newspaper runs an article by Aleksandr Velichenkov. He believes that there was no sense in publishing the Communist Party programme in the form in which it was presented, for the programme had long been epitomised by just one phrase from “The Stalker” by science fiction writers Strugatskikh: “Happiness for all, free of charge, and let no one go away offended”. TRUD on the programme manifesto of Aleksandr Lebed. Under the headline “The Truth and Order", the newspa- per runs the programme manifesto of presidential can- didate Alexander Lebed who singles out the following main subjects: “Russia: the present-day situation”, “The prospective voter FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 ailment of society", “The cure", " A State set-up", and “Russia's Road”. ROSSIYSKIYE VESTI on statements in support of Yeltsin at the June elections. The newspaper carries a column of statements and mes- sages by a number of Russia's non-political organisa- tions in support of the President of the Russian Federa- tion at the June elections. “This is a weighty argument in favour of the idea that the fundamentals of a civic society have appeared in Russia over the past five years of Boris Yeltsin's presidency: people want actually to participate in the country’s life and are aware of their responsibility for its future”. PRAVDA on an expected outcome of Russia’s presi- dential elections. The newspaper summarises remarks by Roy Ellison, Di- rector of the Programme for Russia and CIS Studies at the London-bsed Royal Institute of International Rela- tions, who was interviewed by Pravda’s own correspon- dent Pavel Bogomolov. “If the forthcoming presidential elections in Russia go off without any distortions or falsifications, that would undoubtedly become a triupmh of democracy, a step forward along the road of historic reforms in the vast Eurasian state,” Mr Ellison said. ROSSIYSKIYE VESTI on Caucasian summit. The newspaper highlights the results of the meeting in Kislovodsk of the Heads of State of Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia, as well as the leaders of the republics, territories and regions of Russia's North Caucasus. At the Kislovodsk meeting, President Boris Yeltsin proclaimed five principles of Russia’s Caucasus policy, the newspaper emphasises. KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA on the election of governor of St Petersburg, in which Vladimir Yakoviev won a difficult victory over Anatoliy Sobchak. The newspaper carries an article headlined “The elec- tions in Petersburg: The decline of the Sobchak era”, pointing out, in particular, that Yakovlev reckons him- self among “Democratic practicians”. SOVETSKAYA ROSSIYA on the same subject. The newspaper believes that “the era of the initial ‘Democratic’ intoxication has receded into the past in St Petersburg together with Anatoliy Sobchak". is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 CIS: Yeltsin Speaks at Caucasus Summit Meeting LD0306194096 Moscow Russian Television Network in Russian 1600 GMT 3 Jun 96 [Video report from Kislovodsk by correspondent M. Tkachev, including recordings of remarks by Russian President Boris Yeltsin — from the “Vesti” newscast] [FBIS Translated Text] [Announcer] Today's main political event took place in Kislovodsk, where the first all-Caucasus summit meeting was held. The presidents of Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia today signed a declaration of international accord, peace, and economic and cultural cooperation in the Caucasus. Here are the details of that meeting in Kislovodsk in a report from our correspondent. {Tkachev} Today’s main event was the Greater Cauca- sus meeting, which took place in Kislovodsk. Russian President Boris Yeltsin and the heads of state of Azer- baijan, Armenia, and Georgia appended their signatures to a document of historic significance both for the Cau- casus and for Russia. The declaration of international accord, peace, and economic and cultural cooperation in the Caucasus came into force today. Those attending the meeting welcomed the agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Chechnya, as well as the signing of the memorandum on measures to ensure security and strengthen mutual trust between the sides in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict. The variety of linguistic groups, religious confessions, and national cultures is a unique feature of the Caucasus region, where the basis of Russian policy is lasting peace and relations of mutual support. [Yeltsin, speaking at meeting) Integration processes within the CIS have recently begun to gather strength, but one cannot rush into integration. Today it is pro- ceeding at different speeds, and there is nothing wrong with that. The main thing here is the voluntary princi- ple. [Tkachev) Apart from that, those attending the meeting urged all interested parties to make every effort to eliminate existing conflicts on the basis of the norms of international law. So for the first time a document was [Yeltsin, to camera) The Greater Caucasus meeting — that is what it is called — has taken place for the first and we are sure once more that any painful spot INTERREGIONAL AFFAIRS 17 CIS: Summit Hailed as ‘New Impetus’ for Peace in Caucasus L£0406095196 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 0905 GMT 4 Jun 96 {By Tengiz Pachkoria] (FBIS Transcribed Text] TBILISI, June 4 (Itar-Tass) — A meeting of heads of state of the Transcaucasian countries, Russia and chiefs of republics and regions of the Norethern Caucasus, held on June 3, will give a new impetus to a full-scale settlement of conflicts in the Caucasus. Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze said this to reporters, commenting on the meeting held on Monday. The Georgian president described as “remarkable” the fact that chiefs of regions of the Northern Caucasus joined actively in the settlement of conflicts in the Cau- casus. Shevardnadze believes that very much depends on their actions and responsibility. Shevardnadze hopes that the Kislovodsk meeting will result in stepping up cooperation between the Northern Caucasus and the Transcaucasia and will help restore relations in the areas of culture, science, economy, transport. CIS: Aliyev: Kislovodsk Meeting Will Set Peace in Caucasus LD0306142696 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1356 GMT 3 Jun 96 [FBIS Transcribed Text] KISLOVODSK, June 3 (Inter- fax) — Azerbaijani President Geydar Aliyev on Mon- day expressed confidence that the declaration of peace and goodwill made by Russian and Caucasian leaders at Kislovodsk (Russia's Stavropol territory) “will help establish peace and stability in the Caucasus.” The meeting was attended by leaders from Russia, the Caucasian states and the North Caucasian members of the Russian Federation. Drawing particular attention to “the Karabakh conflict, one of the oldest ones in the Caucasus,” Aliyev said that “the leaders of the former Soviet Union could prevent it but some of them even encouraged its development.” According to Aliyev, among the conflicting sides, Azerbaijan suffered most of all: 20 percent of the republic's territory is occupied, | million people became refugees. The president said that to settle the conflict it is nec- essary to liberate the occupied Azerbaijani territories, return refugees to their homes, and give Nagorno- Karabakh the status of an autonomy within Azerbaijan. 18 INTERREGIONAL AFFAIRS Speaking about the conflict in Chechnya, Aliyev ex- pressed confidence that the initiatives by Russian presi- dent Boris Yeltsin to settle the conflict will bring about positive results. “This will be very important for the settlement of other conflicts in the Caucasus,” said Aliyev. Aliyev expressed hope that reforms will continue in Russia. Linking democratic changes in Russia with Boris Yeltsin, the Azerbaijani leader expressed “uncon- ditional support” for the Russian president. “Azerbaijan, which is connected with Russia by many centuries of history, is not indifferent to what kind of Russia it will do business with in the future,” said Aliyev. Baltics: Benelux MPs Support Baltics’ Accession to EU WS0406101196 Tallinn BNS in English 1755 GMT 3 Jun 96 [FBIS Transcribed Text] Tallinn, June 3, BNS — Members of the Benelux parliament support Baltic states early admission to the European Union and the Schengen visa space, deputy Speaker of the Estonian parliament, Arnold Ruutel, said on his return from Luxembourg Monday. FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 Ruutel said that European integration had been the main issue of the meetings with members of the Benelux parliament. Ruutel said that during their discussions representatives of the Baltic Assembly and the Benelux parliament had exchanged opinions on expanding the Schengen accord, with the prevailing opinion in support of the Baltic states’ early inclusion in the Schengen visa space. Ruutel said that for Estonia this involved a lot of work in terms of accession to a number of international agreements and tightening of its borders. Ruute!l said the Benelux countries fully support the Baltic states’ aspiration to join NATO. "It was pointed out in Luxembourg that a slowdown could be noticed in issues of NATO expansion while in fact the process should be sped up,” Ruutel said. Ruutel also said he had discussed possible Benelux aid to the Baltic countries. Ruutel said the Baltic countries needed aid to support the return of Baltic settlers from Siberia and the return of Russian citizens to their homeland. Ruutel visited Luxembourg from May 29 to June 2, as member of a Baltic Assembly delegation. is report may contain heed Ss — is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 Russia: Grachev: NATO Expansion, PFP Activities Incompatible L.D0306134796 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1325 GMT 3 Jun 96 (FBIS Transcribed Text) LVOV, June 3 (Interfax) — The NATO Partnership for Peace [PFP] program and the eastward expansion of the alliance are incompatible, Russian Defense Minister Pavel Grachev told a news conference at the Lvov military training grounds, where the Peace Shield-96 exercise started Monday. The minister, however, admitted the importance of international military cooperation within the framework of the Partnership for Peace program. The drill involves servicemen from nine nations, who are jointly training for peacekeeping operations. “Ukraine has fulfilled its obligations and became a non- nuclear state on May 31, when the last train loaded with nuclear materials left its territory,” said Grachev. "I do not know whether Ukraine wants to become a member of NATO, but Russia has a well-known stand on this issue,” he added. Russian military reform will greatly increase the peace- keeping potential of the Russian armed forces, Grachev said. A total of 21 battalions will be formed in the Rus- sian armed forces under a presidential decree to have 12,000 soldiers and officers ready for peacekeeping op- erations. Some 17 battalions are being formed in the Leningrad military district and the rest in the Volga military district, said Grachev. "A total of 11,000 servicemen of Russia are already involved in peacekeeping,” he added. Russia: Primakov Hails NATO’s Efforts ‘To Adapt to Realities’ LD0406092196 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 0908 GMT 4 Jun 96 [By Aleksey Korinenko and Aleksandr Mincyev] (FBIS Transcribed Text] BERLIN, June 4 (Itar-Tass) — Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeniy Primakov expressed satisfaction with today’s Russia-NATO meeting at the foreign ministerial level. Primakov agreed with NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana in describing the 16 plus 1 meeting as “frank, useful and constructive.” According to the Russian Minister, it was the main thing that all speakers from the side of the North Atlantic Alliance at the meeting were unanimous in stressing RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 19 that Russia had a very important role to play in the security system and that it was necessary to maintain such relations with it which would enhance security. “We said that we understand the significance of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and believe that the Alliance, judging from yesterday's communique, has begun to adapt to realities,” Primakov said. He explained that the realities he had in mind consisted in the transition not to a unipolar but to a multipolar world on the one hand, and in the shifting of emphasis to the prevention not of a global threat but of threats arising at the regional level in the form of conflicts. “Russia wants to develop relations with NATO, and the meeting heard very encouraging calls on the part of some NATO ministers not to determine any processes in NATO, including the bloc’s expansion in the direction of our borders, but to let all these questions be discussed in dialogue with Russia,” Primakov said. Russia: NATO Will Be Asked To Keep Central Europe Nuclear-Free MM0406105996 Moscow IZVESTIYA in Russian 1 Jun 96 p3 [Article by Konstantin Eggert: “Moscow May Become Troublesome Interlocutor for West If It Fails To Obtain Guarantees of East Europe’s Nuclear-Free Status”] {FBIS Translated Text] Brussels — After the “Partner- ship for Peace” program began to be implemented in 1994, a new wing was added on to the complex of NATO buildings in Brussels. This housed the “part- ners’" missions. The rooms intended for the Russian mission lie empty. People here hope that this is a tem- porary phenomenon. So far only 10 officers led by General Leontiy Shevisov embody Moscow’s cooperation with the North Atlantic alliance. They are at work in the Belgian city of Mons, headquarters of the NATO allied command, Europe, and are mainly dealing with the operation involving the multinational forces in Bosnia. Both alliance spokesmen and Russian diplomats agree that, whereas Moscow's "16 plus one” political consul- tations with NATO are proceeding extremely actively, military cooperation is virtually zero. “A host of officers from Central Europe are at work in Brussels,” a Rus- sian Embassy staffer said. “Our relations with the bloc are complex and there are plenty of concerns at home. But that does not mean that we should turn down the chance of taking a close look at how the 20th century's most effective military organization works. Ultimately 10 years ago we would have spent a pile of money to look at NATO from the inside.” is report may contain is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. — Pg pe oe SOV -96-108 20 RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS i lee ae Personnel at the alliance headquarters say that they NATO interlocutors d cannot develop contacts with the few Russian officers agree to deliberate who have attended seminars in Brussels. “Once they treaty on partnershy return to Moscow they become quite inaccessible,” will be signed s staffers complained. democratic organiza decisions are adopted Nonetheless, when Foreign Minister Yevgeniy Pri- yo teno” Javier § makov comes to Berlin 3 June to take part in the meet- ing of foreign ministers, the Western countries will try not to remind him of the disagreements. "We will talk about the excellent cooperation with the Russians in Bosnia and about how to broaden our dialogue," NATO = _ L0306164090 Mos: Secretary General Javier Solana promised. 1605 GMT 3 Jun 96 The subject of the bloc’s eastward expansion, which _=[FBIS Transcribed Te the Kremlin finds unpleasant, will for all practical — Russia does not intend purposes not be broached during the Berlin meeting. Sevens final transfor People in Brussels make no secret of the reason for = the Lyon summit that, namely the Russian presidential election. People Foreign Ministry offic in NATO are reluctant to hit Yeltsin where it hurts at such a critical moment. What is more, the North Atlantic alliance’s adaptation to new conditions and cuts in and the modernization of its command-staff structure will be discussed in Berlin. People at bloc headquarters speak of the impossibility of another large-scale war on the — The issue is now worked | continent and the need to accept the “minor challenges country’s leaders (Yeltsin of the time” — interethnic conflicts, terrorism, the Economics Minister Yevge proliferation of mass-destruction weapons. mat. Russia: Moscow Not fo Seek G-7 Transformation Into G-8 in Lyon At the same time he s President Boris Yeltsi: ical discussions but als nomic issues Relations between the Kremlin and NATO have been According to hin shrouded in a stifling atmosphere of expectation, which Statement in support should be eased by the Russian election and, in part, of the world’s major by the U.S. election also. Then events are seen as by the summit developing as follows: Either this December at the meeting of NATO foreign ministers or next March or But he said the sum April during the meeting of alliance heads of state the —- Russia’s_ admission candidates for entry to the organization will be named = Ndependent organ and a schedule determined for talks with them. The talks should take another three or four years and only then will Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary (no one doubts that they will be the first) officially join NATO. You get the impression that Moscow has already realized the inevitability of the above scenario: It is now Russia: CFE Members Extend Russia's Term for just a question of the terms on which it will remove its | Arms Destruction objections while at the same time trying to save face. LDO0306151596 Moscow ITAR-TASS in Eng It can be concluded from conversations with diplo- 1448 GMT 3 Jun % mats that the main condition is as follows: NATO (B ee : . , ‘ y Anatoliy Yurkin must provide written guarantees that it will not site nu- : clear weapons and troops in Central Europe. Russia’s {[FBIS Transcribed Text} MOSCOW representatives cite the experience of German unifica- — The decision of the ipanis tion: There are no nuclear weapons or foreign troops in on the operation of the Con) what was the GDR. “We expect concrete answers from (CFE) Treaty to extend 1 NATO,” a high-ranking Russian Embassy staffer said. for Russia's destruction of arma “If they are not forthcoming, our country may change _— treaty applies suits Russia's 5 its line and become a very troublesome interlocutor.” Tass learned on Monday fros Russia would are standing af issues must be resolved specifying the issues is report may contain copynghted matenal. Copying and dissemunatwon is prohibited without permission of the copynght owners FBIS-SOV-96- 108 4 June 1996 international military cooperation at the general staff of the Russian Armed Forces. High officials of the agency believed that giving to Russia three more years for the elimination of part of armaments stationed along its borders remedies the discriminatory situation in which Russia landed because of the historic change of the geopolitical and military situation in Europe. They pointed out that the CFE treaty, signed in Paris on November 19, 1990, was worked out and con- cluded in conditions of the confrontation of two pow- erful military-political blocs — the Warsaw Treaty and NATO. Therefore, initially the implementation of the provision of “flank restrictions” envisaging the elimina- tion of part of armaments of USSR was set for Novem- ber 1995. Russia, painstakingly fulfilling the obligations, raised more than once the question about the revision of some provisions of CFE treaty. Experts in the Russian general staff suggested specific mechanisms for adapting this important document to contemporary conditions. And they did not envisage disrupting the treaty and creating for Russia the opportunity to build up heavy arms in the Northern Caucasus. The Russian delegation at the talks in Vienna pointed to the need to create a group of forces .hat would be meant expressly for ensuring the country’s integrity and security. During the debates, the participants in the conference agreed to begin negotiations in Vienna on substantially modernising the treaty and adapting it to Europe without blocs in new military-political conditions. The decision to extend the time for the destruction of Russian arms has become the initial step in this direction, it is held in the Russian General Staff. Russia: Delegation Aide Explains ‘Tough Line’ on CFE MM0406084196 Moscow TRUD in Russian 30 May 96 p4 (Report by Sergey Buneyev: “We Must Avoid a Trap, Russian Delegation At Vienna Conference To Examine Operation of CFE Treaty Believes"] (FBIS Translated Text] Vienna — We can only spec- ulate about what is happening behind closed doors at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, where the conference to examine the operation of the CFE Treaty has been in session since 15 May. But from the way in which diplomats have been tight-lipped with journalists, we can assume that it has not been easy, although virtually all parties have carried out their commitments to cut military hardware. RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 21 Moreover, according to certain information from the Hofburg, we can assume that the fate of the treaty signed in Paris six years ago is hanging by a thread. Yet that document was meant to be and in principle could serve as a basis for a stable system of international relations on an almost Europe-wide scale. The treaty was drawn up under the conditions of confrontation between two military-political alliances — NATO and the Warsaw Pact — and the security model enshrined in it was designed to maintain the balance between them. But history does not stand still. And although 23 states took part in drawing up the document, 22 signed it — by then Germany had been unified. Incidentally, it has to be said that the Germans then took on additional commitments to reduce their conventional arms, and so there was no particular distortion to the blocs’ security levels. But then the Warsaw Pact and the USSR collapsed. A fundamentally new situation had come about in which the security interests of the states taking part in military- political alliances and of states not taking part in them were not equally considered. Take just the so-called “cascade” principle, which made it possible to “transfer” a quota for any kind of conventional arms from one bloc participant to another. Put crudely, any NATO country is able to concentrate up to 13,300 tanks on its territory by using its allies’ quotas, whereas Russia can have no more than 6,400. Despite this, the 1992 Tashkent meeting of eight independent republics of the former USSR adopted a decision to implement the treaty in the form in which it was signed. Commitments were redistributed as well. The lion’s share of the cuts, of course, went to Russia. What were we guided by in saving a treaty that was now disadvantageous for us? First and foremost, by a rejec tion of confrontation with the West and the strength- ening of confidence in each other. It is undoubtedly to the treaty’s merit that mutual inspections and advance mutual notification from countries about conventional armed forces activity have become possible. But the main motive force has been and continues to be the hope that a security system will be created in Europe which would protect the interests of all states. But the decision to expand NATO eastward makes our participation in this treaty in its present form barely acceptable, since a destabilizing military potential could take shape beside our borders. Moreover, the restrictions contained in the treaty take no account of the need to avert local con- flicts — as has been graphically demonstrated by events in Chechnya. There is also the “flank problem.” Russia has taken on all the USSR’s commitments to bring its flanks armaments into line with the treaty. As a result we are now unable to build any kind of sensible military raed Ss — 1s prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 2 RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS grouping in the North Caucasus region, and the correla- tion between the technical level of equipment of various combat arms has been violated. Or take the Black Sea Fleet problem — how can we ensure its viability and combat readiness without a corresponding amount of naval infantry hardware? “The existing situation objectively requires a revision of obsolete plans,” Sergey Mostinskiy, an adviser to the Russian delegation at the conference, told this TRUD in an interview. "We have put forward a number of ideas that, in our view, make it possible to renew the treaty while retaining its essence. These are, above all, the transfer of arms restrictions from a group basis to a national basis, the introduction of ‘adequacy fules’ for joint armed forces of military- political alliances, and the elaboration of a mechanism for utilizing the provisions of the treaty in exceptional situations and opening it up to accession by other countries. We expect a decision on the immediate commencement of substantive [predmentnyy) talks on these issues to be made at the conference and that it will be reflected in the final document. We believe that modernizing the treaty is in everyone's interests. If Russia does not feel secure, others will not be able to either. We have made a whole number of concessions, but there is a limit — our national interest. If that line is crossed, we will be talking not about an agreement but about capitulation. Ultimately the treaty is not a trap but an agreement between partners who understand each other. The document was drawn up on the basis of consensus and envisages the possibility of withdrawal if a State believes that it is damaging its national security. We are a nuclear power and uitimately we can solve our own problems ourselves. But we believe that the modernized form of the treaty could serve as a basis for creating a new European security model for the 21st century, and we hope that our position will meet with understanding.” Judging by everything, Russia's tough line at the conference has come as a rude awakening to many of the participants, who had not given any attention to any of our proposals for the past three years. At any rate, it seems as though the diplomatic horse-trading is under way. Will it be possible to preserve the viability of this truly unique document? Russia: Kislovodsk: Yeltsin Speech, Reactions Cited MM0406105196 Moscow ROSSIYSKIYE VESTI in Russian 4 Jun 96 pl {Report by Pavel Anokhin and Aleksandr Ryabushev: “Five Principles of Russia’s Caucasus Policy Were Proclaimed Yesterday by Russian Federation President Boris Yeltsin at Kislovodsk Meeting With Transcau- FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 casus Heads of State and Leaders of North Caucasus Republics, Krays, and Oblasts") {(FBIS Translated Text] Kislovodsk — The meeting began with the signing of the joint declaration “For Interethnic Accord, Peace, and Economic and Cultural Cooperation in the Transcaucasus.” “I attach exceptional importance to this document,” Russian President B. Yeltsin stated. “It contains an action program aimed at making the Caucasus a peaceful, prosperous, and comfortable home for all the peoples who live there.” At a meeting of the top political elite of the Transcau- casus and North Caucasus Boris Yeltsin read out the five principles of Russia's Caucasus policy, which are designed to establish lasting peace in the region. They consist of the following: 1. The Caucasus is a unique community of peoples. Attempts to dismember the single Caucasian organism and to drive a wedge between certain Caucasian peoples and countries, and between the Caucasus as a whole and Russia will inevitably mean big trouble for all of us. We need stability, security, and cooperation throughout the entire Black Sea-Caspian area. Otherwise it will be impossible for Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, or Georgia to develop normally. 2. Our common responsibility ard paramount task is to place the situation in the Caucasus under strong 5 int control, to extinguish conflicts, and to overcome their consequences as quickly as possible. In our view, this can only be done on the path of strengthening fed- eralism. It is the development of federal principles that makes it possible to strengthen the stability and integrity of our states and to ensure that people have the right to decide their own destiny. Russia itself is consistently building federal statehood and will firmly follow this path. I called on the leaders of the Federation compo- nents of the North Caucasus and adjoining regions to take part in our meeting today. Their presence here is a kind of participation [soprichastnost] in Russia's foreign policy. I am convinced that this is in our joint interests. 3. Russia recognizes and respects the independence and state sovereignty of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia. And we will actively develop cooperation with each Transcaucasian state. 4. The road to prosperity for our peoples lies through the development and of coopera- tion, through integration. | proceed on the basis of the joint experience of economic, political, and cultural ties that have been built up over centuries, and the shared culture and history of Russia and the other Caucasian States. Integration processes in the CIS have recently started gathering strength. But we must not rush into eee een is prohibsted without permission of the copynght owners FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 imtegration. It is now moving at different speeds. And there is nothing worrying about that. The main thing in this area is a voluntary attitude. Integration may take place not only at different levels but in different areas. Some people are ready for integration in certain spheres, while others are ready in other spheres. The main thing is that Russia and the Transcaucasian states have every reason and opportunity to work together, taking account of their mutual interests. 5. The Caucasus is an important element in strength- ening the all-European security system. And that means strengthening the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe too. Russia is in favor of the Caucasus being open to the world and becoming an or- ganic part of the world community. "The Caucasus has become one of the hottest spots in the world.... It means pain and suffering, and people being killed,” Boris Yeltsin said in his speech, stress- ing that through joint efforts it has been possible to establish [ustanovit as published, presumably misprint for “ostanovit” — stop] the guns in the Transcauca- sus. The Russian president welcomed the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents’ resolve to conclude a broad political agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh, and also as- sessec’ on its merits the signing of the "Memorandum on Measures To Safeguard Security and Strengthen Mutual Trust Between the Parties in the Georgia-Ossetia Con- flict." Boris Yeltsin voiced the hope that the Abkhaz problem will soon be resolved in the same way. “Rus- sia, Goris Yeltsin said, “intends to continue to carry out its peacekeeping functions and to actively promote the normalization of the situation in the entire Transcauca- sus. Boris Yeltsin also touched on the problem of the Chechen crisis. He noted that the agreement signed by the federa! authorities and the leaders of the armed formations has paved the way to a full settlement of the conflict. "We will unswervingly observe the agreement that has been signed,” the head of state stressed. The refugee problem did not go unheeded. According to the president, Russia remembers and is concerned about its fellow-countrymen living in the Transcaucasus, and is not forgetting about the Transcaucasian diaspora in Russia. "Our human and political duty demands that we do everything to help the refugees get back to their homes,” the Russian president noted. “To do this we need to normalize the situation in the Caucasus as a whole.” Commenting for ROSSIYSKIYE VESTI on the meet- ing, North Ossetian President Akhsarbek Galazov noted that it was possible thanks to Boris Yeltsin's efforts and his trip to Chechnya. “This meeting,” he stressed, RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 23 “could mark the start of the stabilization of the situation in southern Russia, and will help to solve the difficult problems of resolving Osset-Ingush relations, Nagorno- Karabakh, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, and Chechnya.” Akhsarbek Galazov noted that many politicians are trying in their election campaigns to pin responsibility for the Chechnya conflict on the Russian Federation leadership. “But if we look consistently at what Boris Yeltsin has done to settle relations with the Chechen Republic,” the head of North Ossetia said, “it is quite clear that the Russian president is trying to solve the Chechnya conflict peacefully.” The results of the pan-Caucasus meeting were also highly assessed by the military, Thus, in conversation with ROSSIYSKIYE VESTI journalists, Colonel Gen- eral Anatoliy Kvashnin, commander of the North Cau- casus Military District, stressed that the military had long been waiting for these talks and can now see that peace has really arrived. In the opinion of observers, the pan-Caucasus meeting is a development of the ini- tiatives undertaken by Russian President B. Yeltsin, and shows that Russia is making a full-fledged return to the Caucasus. The first-ever meeting on such a scale in the history of the Caucasus was possible, in the opinion of all those present, thanks to the initiative and persistence of the Russian president. Noting the importance of the event, Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan said that the meeting went beyond the framework of regional politics and the immediate political situation. The meeting participants expressed an interest in continuing the peace-loving trends in Russian policy in the Caucasus, linking it to the initiatives of current President Boris Yeltsin — initiatives which have saved the Caucasus from disaster. Those present called on Russians and their fellow-countrymen to support Boris Yeltsin in the 16 June election. Russia: Kislovodsk Talks Reviewed; Yeltsin Tone Finds Favor MM0406095996 Moscow KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA in Russian 4 Jun 96 p2 {Report by Aleksandr Gamov and Aleksandr Yev- tushenko: “Caucasian Accent for Russian President. “Big Four’ Met in Kislovodsk Yesterday"} {[FBIS Translated Text] Kislovodsk — A Chayka es- corted by a black Volga and several police vehicles swept impressively down the avenues of Kislovodsk’'s Ordzhonikidze Sanatorium with a quiet whoosh of tires. “What kind of guests were these?” we asked, and imme- diately tried to identify their territorial origins from the is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. ro RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS license plates. The plates proved strange, namely 1996 BN. The vehicles came to a halt and we asked the driver directly about it. "We are from North Ossetia. The Chayka belongs to President A. Galazov. Can the license plates really be unclear: ‘Boris Nikolayevich, 1996.’" This is the second time during his election campaign that Boris Yeltsin has traveled to Stavropol Kray. In April he was brought here by what were purely Russian problems: Then he met with residents of Budennovsk. This time the Russian head of state went straight to Kislovodsk to speak face to face and — this was partic- ularly emphasized — on an equal footing with his coun- terparts from Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia. With one objective: the elaboration and signing of a joint dec- laration “For Interethnic Accord, Peace, and Economic and Cultural Cooperation in the Caucasus.” According to Press Secretary Sergey Medvedev, the discussion of the declaration was productive and changes were made to the draft in line with the current situation. “The stability and integrity of our states can only be strengthened and our peoples’ right to decide their des- tiny ensured by strengthening federalism,” the Russian president believes. “The main thing is that Russia and the states of the Transcaucasus have every reason and opportunity to act together, with consideration for their mutuai interests. The Caucasus is an important clement in the strengthening of the all-European security system. And thus in the strengthening of the OSCE [Organiza- tion for Security and Cooperation in Europe}. Russia is in favor of contacts being open to the world and form- ing an organic part of the world community.” The Russian leadership's latest moves to settle the Chechen crisis were also made known at the “big Caucasian meeting.” As Boris Yeltsin told the gathering, a draft treaty on the demarcation of powers between the Russian Federation's federal organs of power and Chechen Republic organs of power has currently been put forward for discussion. “Better for there to be battles in the legal field than on the fields of war,” Boris Nikolayevich said. Yesterday during the meeting of the “Big Four” a dec- laration “For Interethnic Accord, Peace, and Economic and Cultural Cooperation in the Caucasus” was signed. Its main idea is this: “We state our firm determination to do our utmost to promote the establishment of last- ing peace and stability in the Caucasus and broaden and ‘e < tional relations of friendship and co- common home. It is our duty to make it peaceful and prosperous, a place where people who take pride is their republic and who look with confidence to the future can FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 live.” The declaration was signed by Geydar Aliyev, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Eduard Shevardnadze, and Boris Yeltsin. Throughout the day a patently Caucasian accent pre- vailed if not in the Russian president's intonation then in what he said, which proved very much to the liking of all participants in the Kislovodsk meeting. After the meeting Boris Yeltsin told journalists that he was pleased with the results of the work of the “Caucasian Four.” What is more, speaking about the prospects for the resolution of the Chechen crisis, he stressed: “A firm stance is needed in order to secure peace in the current difficult situation. We have already seen that a soft stance does not bring results.” As the Russian president said, the next meeting of the “Four,” the date of which has not been set, will be devoted to transport problems. “Virtually all the Cau- casian republics are enveloped by transport problems,” the Russian leader remarked. “Railroads and roads are not working and air travel is prone to holdups. We must unravel this knot come what may.” Russia: Yeltsin Welcomes Geneva Forum on CIS Refugees MM0306110696 Moscow ROSSIYSKIYE VEST! in Russian 31 May 96 pi (Unattributed report: “Problem of CIS Refugees Dis- cussed in Geneva"] (FBIS Translated Text] Yesterday the Russian president sent a greetings message to participants in an interna- tional conference in Geneva dealing with the problems of refugees in the CIS countries. Noting the symbolic nature of the fact that this conference has actually been convened, Boris Yeltsin stressed: “It shows that the in- ternational community shares the CIS countries’ desire to resolve together the most acute problems of migra- tion in the post-Soviet area and demonstrates their firm resolve to back the requisite measures here to case the aftermath of the mass movement of population and pre- vent a future population exodus.” Russia: Primakov Arrives Berlin 3 Jun LD0306155296 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service in Russian 1510 GMT 3 Jun 96 {by ITAR-TASS correspondents Aleksey Korniyenko and Aleksandr Mincyev]) {FBIS Translated Text] Berlin, 3 June — Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeniy Primakov arrived in the German capital today. He is to attend a session of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council, scheduled is report may contain copynghted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copynght owners. FBIS-SOV-96- 108 4 June 1996 for tomorrow, which will discuss the development of military and political relations between the NATO countries, the former Warsaw Pact states, and the CIS republics. The schedule for the Berlin visit by the head of Russian diplomacy provides, in particular, for him to attend a meeting of the “Contact Group” on the former Yugoslavia and a meeting with the NATC Council in accordance with the "16-1" formula. Russia: Interpariiamentary Committee of ‘Union of Four’ Eyed MM0306140996 Moscow TRUD in Russian I Jun 96 pi {Report by Olga Solomonova: “Mechanism for ‘Union of Four.’ Agreement on Creating Interparliamentary Committee of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia Signed in Bishkek”) (FBIS Translated Text) Bishkek — The talk about integration between the CIS countries has been under way more or less zealously for over a year. But 1996 has obviously been a crucial year. A closer union emerged in the CIS area when four states concluded a treaty on deepening economic and cultural ties. This “union of four” has opened up a new phase of integration. The pendulum has swung in the other direction, and whereas previously the process of sovereignization and national isolation might have been considered objective, today the desire for unification among the former Union republics, now independent states, is probably no less objective. As Yegor Stroyev, chairman of the Interparliamentary Assembly and of the upper house of the Russian parliament, said, it is politicians’ task to help this desire to be realized. The mechanism likely to do this will be the Interpar- liamentary Committee formed by the four states’ par- liaments — it is a joint legislative organ in which all parties have equal rights. Essentially, it is a suprana- tional parliament of the “union of four” — Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and the Russian Federation — agreement on which was signed in Bishkek 28 May. Kt is quite clear that a common iegislative base — without which the cconomic union will not work and cooperation in the sphere of culture, science, education, and so forth will remain just good intentions — is needed for joint work and to develop relations. The creation of a legal basis will be handled by the committee, whose elected chairman is Almambet Matubraimov, speaker of the upper house of the Kyrgyz parliament. RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 2s What is the advantage of the union? Citizens of these countries can already travel without visas, borders are open, customs barriers have been removed, and customs duty has been abolished. This means that over the vast territory of the “four,” as Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev put it, trade will revive and a free common market wil! emerge, which should lead to a common economic revival. A start has been made, but major painstaking work will have to be done to create the legislative base for integration processes and a favorable investment climate. What is the attitude of the other CIS parliaments to the “union of four"? Is anyone planning to join? Petru Lucinschi, head of the Moldovan parliament, voiced at a press conference what was seemingly not only his opinion: "We want to see what they will make of it.” There is probably a bit of jealousy about the closer relationship of the “four” among the other members of the Interparliamentary Assembly. On this score Yegor Stroyev optimistically noted: “If there is jealousy, that means there is interest; and if there is interest, then tomorrow there will be a desire to work together....” The economic difficulties that are largely shared by the states of the former Soviet empire are pushing politicians into looking for allies. These are the first experimental steps — the “union of four” and then the still closer union between two states that was concluded in April by Belarus and Russia. So far it is hard to say what will come of it. If we work on the basis that joint efforts and mutually advantageous cooperation will lead to economic growth in these countries, then citizens’ living standards will increase. In the future, of course — but that future has to be prepared today. Russia: Aide Denies ‘Clouds’ Mar Russo-Israeli Relations MM0306154796 Moscow ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA in Russian 1 Jun 96 p 3 ["Rejoinder” by Aleksey Kravisov: "Who Brought In the ‘Cloud’ and Why?"] {[FBIS Translated Text] People at the Israeli Foreign Ministry prefer to describe the tension that has arisen between the two countries of late as a cloud that has appeared in the clear firmament of Israeli-Russian re- lations. A high-ranking member of the Israeli For- eign Ministry flew to Moscow this week to dispel the “cloud,” allegedly with a view to settling the disagree- ment over questions of Russian property in Jerusalem. peep ; hed “Eo — is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 26 RUSSIA INiz NATIONAL AFFAIRS This was reported by Radio Liberty and the Voice of Israel. “There was indeed a cloud in relations, but it has nothing to do with the ‘pro-Arab’ line in our foreign policy for which some people are reproaching us,” a Russian Federation Foreign Ministry leader told your ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA observer. “On the contrary, we are trying to ensure that our relations with all states in this region ave even. It is more likely due to the Israeli mass media campaign accusing us of this in an unfounded and indiscriminate manner. We flatly reject these accusations. But there is no crisis in our relations with Israel and the clouds which are appearing are the result of ous interpretations of Russian foreign policy, primarily in the Israeli press.” But it turned out that the “cloud” by no means has “vague” but quite definite outlines. The Israeli press reported that last December » member of Israeli intel- ligence, Mossad, working under “cover” of the Israeli Embassy in Moscow, was caught red-handed in Moscow handling secret documents. Accommodating the Israeli Government, the Russian mass media did not report this. But there is every indication that it did not prove pos- sible to hide it from Israeli journalists, and interested forces decided to impart a definite thrust to this incident and exploit it in the election campaign. Certain Israeli mass media launched a campaign accusing Russia of i ing anti-Semitic sentiments and of a pro-Arab line in its foreign policy. As for Russian property in Jerusalem, it turns out that there do not seem to be any particular disagreements over this. Your ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA observer was told by Aleksandr Tokovinin, head of the Near East and North Africa Depart.nent’s Israel Desk, that during talks an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman said that the country’s leadership has officially decided to reregister in Russia's name the former USSR’s property in Israel. it only remained to agree certain formalities. We are talking about a plot of land in downtown Jerusalem and the buildings of the Russian spiritual mission and the Church of the Trinity, which belong to the Russian Church and which are, incidentally, still used by the Moscow Patriarchate. Russia: Report on Joint Ventures With Foreign Firms in DPRK SK0406021796 Moscow Voice of Russia World Service in Korean 1200 GMi 3 Jun 96 {(FBIS Translated Text} North Korean economists be- lieve that prospects of joint ventures with foreign busi- ness companies in the DPRK are bright. In an inierview with ITAR TASS, an expert at the External Economic Committee of the DPRK said that all condiuons are ready for the foreign business consnanies to make joint ventures in the : FBIS-SOV -96- 108 4 June 1996 te said that low taxes, state-run property that guaran- tees any insolvency, and well-educated skilled labor in the DPRK have become favorable conditions for invest- ment. Nevertheless, he said, no sufficient foreign capital has been introduced into the DPRK. He noted that prob- lems of marketing finished products and ying fuel and raw materials may have become obstacles to real- izing bright joint-venture businesses. As of today, approximately 130 joint-venture enterprises are engaging in businesses in the DPRK. Russia: Zhirinovskiy Sends Wife to North Korea, Promises Aid LD0406 100696 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 0924 GMT 4 Jun 96 {By Ivan Zakharchenko]} {[FBIS Transcribed Text) PYONGYANG, June 4 (Itar-Tass) — The wife of the leader of the Liberal- Democratic Party of Russia Viadimir Zhirinovskiy, Galina Lebedeva, who is leading a delegation from her husband's party on a visit to North Korea, met Secretary of the Central Committee of the Korean Workers’ Party Hwan Jang-ob on Monday, June 3, to ask him to convey greetings and a present from Viadimir Zhirinovskiy to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. According to the newspaper RODONG SHINMUN, Galina Lebedeva told Hwan Jang-ob that Zhirinovskiy supports the ideas of Juche and the theory and makes efforts to promote the development of relations of friendship with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The newspaper also quotes the LDPR leader's wife as saying that “all successes in Korea have been achieved thanks to the wise leadership of comrade Kim Jong-il.” Viadimir Zhirinovskiy himself visited North Korea in October 1994. In Moscow, the leader of the press service of the LDPR parliamentary group, retired Major-General Viktor Fi- latov, told Itar-Tass that the delegation led by Galina Lebedeva was in North Korea “on a humane mission.” He said he did not rule out that the party would organise humanitarian aid to North Korea which is experiencing difficulties with supplies of food to the population after last year’s devastating floods. “Although we have no money, we possess considerable authority and can, thanks to it, organise a shipment of mutton from Australia to North Korea,” the LDPR spokesman said. is report may contain copyrighted is prohibited without permission of the copynght owners. : alc er — FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 Political Issues Russia: Yeltsin Returns to Moscow From Caucasus Summit LD0306182996 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service in Russian 1757 GMT 3 Jun 96 ‘ [By ITAR-TASS special correspondent Shtorkh] {[FBIS Translated Text] Moscow, 3 Jun (Itar-Tass) — This evening Russian President Boris Yeltsin returned to Moscow from Kislovodsk, where he took part in today’s meeting of the heads of state of Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia. In Kislovodsk Boris Yeltsin, Geydar Aliyev, Levon Ter- Petrosyan, and Eduard Shevardnadze signed the final declaration “For interethnic accord and economic and cultural cooperation in the Caucasus.” After the talks between the four presidents there was a "Big Caucasus” meeting, in which, besides the heads of state, heads of the republics and regions of the Russian part of the North Caucasus took part. The participants in the meeting adopted a statement in which they approved the nomination of Boris Yeltsin for the Russian presidency for a second term. Russia: Yeltsin Congratuiates New Governor of St. Petersburg Andrey LD0306185396 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1844 GMT 3 Jun 96 {FBIS Transcribed Text) St. Petersburg, June 3 (Itar- Tass) — Viadimir Yakovlev, a newly-clected St. Pe- tersburg governor, and Russian President Boris Yeltsin had a telephone conversation on Monday, the gover- nor’s press service told Itar-Tass. During their brief conversation, Yeltsin, who is cur- had a 20-minute conversation with Moscow Mayor Yuriy RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS 27 Yakoviev who had been first deputy mayor of St. Petersburg before the polls, on Sunday was elected St. Petersburg governor, the new head of the executive power in the second largest city in Russia. According to preliminary data of the city electoral commission, he collected 47.5 percent of votes in the runoff elections held in St. Petersburg last Sunday. He outstripped his rival Anatoliy Sobchak, the former city mayor since 1991, by almost two percent: Sobchak won 45.8 percent of the electorate. Russia: Yeltsin Decree Approves Regional Policy Guidelines LD0406102696 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service in Russian 0010 GMT 4 Jun 96 {FBIS Translated Text] Moscow, 4 Jun (ITAR-TASS) — President Boris Yeltsin decreed approval of the Basic Guidelines for Regional Policy in the Russian Federa- tion, the head of state’s press service has reported. The president recommended that federal and regional government agencies use the Basic Guidelines for Regional Policy in the Russian Fedecation to meet objectives for the social and economic development of the Russian Federation, to boost the effectiveness of economic reforms and to ensure the prosperity of the population, and for developing federalism and local self- guvernment. Russia: Reports on Fedorov’s Arrest, Premier, Election, Chechnya MK0406073696 Moscow ZAVTRA in Russian No. 22 May 96 (signed to press 28 May 1996) p 1 (Unattributed “field reports by the ‘Den’ security ser- vice” under the "Scoreboard" rubric") (FBIS Translated Text] — Details concerning the arrest of Sports Fund President Fedorov are beginning to seep in. A Korzhakovite and Tarpishchev's partner, Fedorov ran an organization that made up to $2 billion a year from duty-free alcohol imports (which amounted to legalized smuggling) and was arrested for possessing a package containing drugs. Two days later he was released. During this time, however, the Korzhakov group replaced the leadership of the Sports Fund, appointing its officer as a cover. This attack on the fund did not come out of the blue. The "Moscow Group" had reportedly carefully planned the operation for “tripping up" the Korzhakovites, but could not organize the seizure of the compromising document to the full extent... — The Luzhkovites have suffered a provisional defeat in their campaign for edging Chernomyrdin out of t may tar ight 4 ! ial. Ci . and di * . is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOY-96-108 RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS 4 June 1996 minister. His American friends, such as Gore, turned out to be too busy at the moment with elections in Israel, where the American man is at the end of his rope and might well lose out. Russia: Government To Ensure Stable Financing of Conversion LD0406085396 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 0811 GMT 4 Jun 96 [By Oleg Velichko] (FBIS Transcribed Text) TYUMEN June 4 (Itar-Tass) — The Russian government will take the necessary measures to ensure stable financing of the endorsed federal programme of conversion. Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Soskovets, on a working visit in Tyumen, said this in an interview to Russian news agencies on Tuesday. The Cabinet of Minister instructed a number of min- istries to design mechanisms for the protection of Rus- sian producers by benefits to consumers purchasing Russian-made equipment and to create a system for mar- keting uses of requirements of enterprises of the fuel- and-energy complex. Pricing, the need for the reform of taxation, the alter- ation of a rigid financial policy regarding the oil-and-gas complex, state protectionism, are among the problems of the oil-and-gas complex noted by chiefs of leading oil companies. Soskovets said that one of the reasons limiting the growth of production is the dwindling of the solvent domestic demand which leads to the growth of non- payments. This problem is being partially resolved by increasing the share of exports and rerouting exports from ex-USSR countries to more remote foreign coun- tries. Soskovets believes that an important feature of the oil- and-gas area is a strong dependence of its financial position on export and the exchange rate. The share of the branch's export of oil to foreign countries is 30-32 per cent, of gas more than 20 per cent. The share of receipts from the exports of products made up 55-60 per cent. It is estimated that the losses of exporters from the devaluation of the dollar make up 1-1.5 per cent of the gross domestic product per quarter. Enterprises of the oil-and-gas complex are interested in export as they are in need of funds which it is ever more difficult to receive in the domestic market. FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 Military & Nuclear Issues Russia: Defense Minister Grachev’s Position Examined LD0306185596 Moscow NTV in Russian 1700 GMT 2 Jun 96 {From the “Itogi” newscast presented by Yevgeniy Kiselev]} {FBIS Translated Text) The shooting is likely to con- orders of the supreme commander in chief. Speaking at an expanded sitting of the Defense Ministry Collegium in Moscow this week Grachev, addressing the president Cafry out the tasks, we shall fulfil all your need have no doubt about that. [end recording) Over the last month, Boris Yeltsin's press service has at g is! RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS 29 colonel-general promised to get Boris Nikolayevich an extra 3,000,000 votes, though it’s incomprehensible from where he was going to get them. Well, if I may go on to the second question. The second question is about military reform in the Army. Since nothing is done in the army, starting from the minister and ending with the last commander, military reform should be like this. And he [Gromov] goes on to describe this military reform. This reform, it turns out, and the prospects which we can expect, was drawn up by the main headquarters long ago. Then he comes up with a third phrase: Esteemed Boris Nikolayevich! Given that the army is falling apart and the leadership is incapable of anything, after lengthy reflection I have made my decision and am ready to head the Defense Ministry. [Laughter in audience] What do you think of that, then? Just how low can you get? [end recording] In a memorable interview with Russian Public Televi- sion at the end of last year a general, a different general, Aleksandr Korzhakov, said that nobody was better at re- porting on his own successes than Gen. Grachev. The present defense minister really is unsinkable. Despite the rumors stubbornly doing the rounds in Moscow about Grachev’s resignation, an order dismissing him is said to be on the president's desk, and even though newspapers are publishing lists of possible successors, the minister is managing to hold on to his post using methods like those you have just seen. For this, Pavel Sergeyevich is demonstrating the qualities not only of a fighting gen- eral but also of a career diplomat, able when necessary to cast off the responsibility for mistakes committed and accuse his former comrades of all possible sins. Just the way he railed against his former comrade, as you have just seen. One should point out that Gen. Grachev permits himself liberties which are deemed improper in the army. In an interview published in the latest edition of OGONEK, Grachev declares: Before you is the minister of 1996. His team has been formed through all links of command, starting from the regiment. All these are my proteges. Everyone who could not work with me has left. Note the vocabulary! Grachev says he has strong back- ing from the directors of defense enterprises. And finally, in his OGONEK interview, Grachev effec- tively threatens the president and supreme comman- der in chief. I quote: Usually the president takes well- considered decisions. He himself understands that if he gives me up, he will not gain anything from it himself. Again, note the use of the words give up. 1 mean not just in the elections but in general, Grachev's vocabu- lary really is striking. The minister permits himse!f to use words which to any officer look simply unworthy copyrighted material Copying and dissemination ppt oe pl ap pein ey a »% RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS — excuse me, simply indecent — and which, further- more, arouse a feeling of alarm, especially just before the 16 June elections. I don’t know whether the min- ister will have to explain to the president exactly what he had in mind but it is clear that, in any event, the final decision on whether Grachev will continue to be the defense minister, or whether he will be replaced by some other general, is up to the president who, in the last days running up to the election is acting very ener- getically and decisively. Russia: ‘Gullible’ Gromov Seen Misused by Yeltsin, Grachev MM0306153096 Moscow SOVETSKAYA ROSSIYA in Russian 1] Jun 96 p2 {Article by Aleksandr Soldatov: “Honor Is Out of Favor") {FBIS Translated Text] You do not have to prove that the man fighting for reelection as president has no concept of honor. But iis latest move might shock even his most loyal comrades-in-arms. the confidential conversation to Grachev, naturally opened Yeltsin's eyes to the nature of the colonel general, who according to FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 Trusting in the sincerity of the Kremlin incumbent and leader, the naively honest colonel general honestly tells him the whole grim truth, and probably voices his view of those same reforms, of which he as a top- ranking officer knows more than enough. The president nods his head in agreement, eyes glinting in anger, and very likely promises to investigate everything and impose order. He may also quite possibly provoke his interlocutor into a question about whether he would agree to take charge of the military department and military organizational development and, flattered at the president's trust, the colonel general nods his assent. There is no intrigue in that. If you are bold enough to mention problems, you must always be prepared to be the first to resolve them. The president shakes the hand of the trusted officer, blesses him in his future work, and sends him off to carry out more campaigning on his behalf. Whereupon they part. Then most likely at their next evening get-together Boris Yeltsin laughingly relays the contents of his conversation with this colonel general to Pavel Grachev. And then everything happens as our "very best minister" informed the world at large: an exchange of opinions alternating with obscene language and probably general laughter at the naive Russian officer who was flattered by the great trust placed in him.... Yet some people describe such a man as a guarantor. A guarantor of what? Intrigue and duplicity? Abuse of trust? Needless to say, you can casually dismiss the Kremlin intrigues of those who are alien to the people. But let the admirers of the “guarantor” ponder what he will really be able to guarantee them in the event of victory. Ponder and lament. I do, however, feel sorry for the gullible hero-officer whom the authorities are bossing about for by no means the first time. Russia: Kokoshin on New Armaments Program, Funding Requirements MM0306145696 Moscow KRASNAYA ZVEZDA in Russian 31 May 96 pp I, 3 {"Own information” report: “Ministry of Defense Has Clear-Cut Policy on Equipping the Army”) {[FBIS Translated Text] On 30 May, at the All-Russia Conference of Defense Industry Workers, First Deputy Defense Minister Andrey Kokoshin said in his speech that the Ministry of Defense, together with the Ministry of the Defense Industry and the Ministry of the Econ- omy, have prepared what is, in terms of the last few years, already the second long-term Armaments Pro- gram Through the Year 2005, which is currently be- ing examined by the Russian Government. The Ministry copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination S ceeliniea aeinenauealicien af Ge coped rnten FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 of Defense and the General Staff have clearly defined their armaments and military equipment requirements and have formulated priority tasks and programs which are linked in terms of the scheduling of and resources needed for their execution. The fundamentals of the De- fense Ministry's military-technical policy have been rat- ified by the president and the Security Council. Practi- caily all the executing agencies are familiar with these positions. So any claims that the Ministry of Defense has no clear-cut policy on equipping the Armed Forces are groundless. State decisions at the highest level are now required for determining the economic parameters of this program. Expenditure on research and development and the purchase of weapons and military hardware must be increased within the framework of a general increase in defense expenditure. The Ministry of Defense is making supreme efforts to obtain resources to guarantee the defense order. This task requires daily attention. Although at the moment proving possible to secure more than in other of civilized lobbying for the defense sector as a whole, rather than just individual enterprises and regions, has yet taken shape. Particular attention must be paid to all possible devel- opment of what are known as critical dual technolo- gies ensuring the creation of the scientific and techni- cal groundwork for equipping the Armed Forces in the future. Both budget and extrabudgetary funds must be used in the optimal way. Andrey Kokoshin then drew attention to the need to fully take into account and carry out the provisions con- tained in the Russian Federation President's Message to the Federal Assembly regarding the industrial policy of Russia's own military-industrial complex. The message also stresses that it is vitally important to preserve the scientific and technical base of the Russian military- industrial complex, ensure increased production of the latest models of weapons, and develop the export po- tential. The implementation of these provisions requires enor- mous efforts on the part of all those who value the inter- ests of defense capability and national security. A high degree of coordination is needed in the work of the Min- istry of the Defense Industry, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of the Economy, and other departments in the functioning of Russia's new export control system, which is designed to play an important role in protect- ing the interests of domestic producers. RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS 31 Touching on questions of international military- technical cooperation, the first deputy defense minister noted that it plays an extremely important role not only in the country’s economy but also in ensuring the military-political component of Russia's national security. Finalized with the active participation, and in many respects on the initiative, of the Ministry of Defense, the clear-cut state policy on international military-technical cooperation is aimed at the formation in the world of balances of forces which are advan- tageous to Russia, and moreover which involve the resources of other countries which have a vital interest in this. These balances of forces must minimize the possibility of the outbreak of war and armed conflicts, first and foremost those which threaten our country’s security directly or indirectly. The Ministry of Defense, together with the Ministry of the Defense Industry and the Federal Security Service, are taking the most active measures to establish a State procedure in questions of the collaboration of domestic weapons manufacturers and developers with their foreign partners. Representatives of the military department participated actively in shaping Russia's new export control system designed to play an important role in protecting the interests of domestic producers, A. Kokoshin noted. Not everyone is happy with this, but these are essential measures. Russia: Kokoshin Defends Ministry’s Arms Order Effort MM0406112596 Moscow KRASNAYA ZVEZDA in Russian | Jun 96 pl {"Own information” report: “The Ministry of Defense Is Making Every Effort To Ensure That the State Order Continues To Be Attractive to Enterprises”] [FBIS Translated Text] On 29, 30, and 31 May Andrey Kokoshin, Russian Federation first deputy minister of defense, held a series of meetings with the leaders of the country’s leading defense enterprises who were participating in the All-Russia Conference of Defense Industry Workers. Both current anJ long-term questions of the development of the defense industry complex and of the technical equipment of the Armed Forces were discussed. It was pointed out during the meetings that the signing of the edict "On Priority Measures of Support for En- terprises in the Russian Federation's Defense Compiex" had already influenced the Finance Ministry's determi- nation of ceilings for payment of the state defense order for May. They had been increased in such a way as to ensure the edict’s fulfillment in the sphere of clearing the state's debts to enterprises. ee prohibited without permission of the copynght owners RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS of obtaining “live” money remains particularly acute. Kokoshin pointed out that the Defense Min- every day, from morning until late in the evening, tackling questions of financial provision both for the troops and for the enterprises fulfilling the de- . questions have to be resolved in acute competitive struggie for the state's budget re- insists that payment for credit provided for be made not out of the defense bud- reducing it, but out of money servicing the *s internal debt. ing the meetings with the defense enterprise leaders Andrey Kokoshin also drew attention to the fact that a number of Russian organizations have achieved signif- icant successes in creating the latest standardized com- puter equipment for the control of weapons and troops. Cc Pavel Grachev at a special exhibition 30 May this year. During the meetings with the top Defense Ministry leadership many enterprise leaders asked for the state defense order to be increased or for the order to be issued to them in cases where there is none for 1996. Despite problems with funding, competition for the state defense order has increased still further. This is because payments relating to the defense order remain among the most reliable across the country, even though these payments are frequently made very belatedly. ht was also pointed out that the radical restructuring of the defense industry is proving very protracted, more efficient technological chains are taking a long time to establish, defense enterprises still have large overheads, FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 and the costly social sphere is retained. In this plane great hopes are pinned on the Ministry of the Defense Industry, which is being created on the basis of the Russian Federation State Committee for the Defense Sectors of Industry and which, together with the Defense Ministry, has a huge work front. Russia: Defense Ministry Allocates Tax Relief To Pay Debts LD3105224795 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service in Russian 0918 GMT 31 May 96 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Oleg Velichko} (FBIS Translated Text] Moscow, 31 May (Itar-Tass) — The Russian Federation Defense Ministry, in con- sultation with the government, has allocated 1.2 tril- lion rubles in the form of tax relief to write off the military department's debts to power-engineering enter- prises. This was stated by Oleg Soskovets, first deputy prime minister of the Russian Federation, at a hook-up today. In the first quarter of 1996 alone, the Russian Defense Ministry’s actual debt grew by 5.8 trillion rubles and almost doubled quarterly payments. Russia: Major Battleships Scheduled To Enter Service by Year End MM0406083896 Moscow Russian Public Television First Channel Network in Russian 0800 GMT 2 Jun 96 {From the “Military Courier” program: Report over video on “Three Hundred Years of the Russian Navy” conference held by the Main Staff of the Russian Navy and the Russian Government's state maritime center; figures in brackets denote broadcast time in GMT in hours, minutes, and seconds) (FBIS Translated Excerpt] [080505-080528 conference scene-setting passage omitted] [080529] [Unidentified correspondent over video of Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Feliks Gromov addressing conference] The Navy is currently living through times which are no less difficult than the period of its inception. Several former major shipyards are now located outside Russia. The number of ships has decreased considerably. The strategic nuclear forces of the Navy are in a difficult position. The pace of the construction of new ships and naval aircraft has decreased noticeably. The Navy needs new warships. But warships cost money, a lot of money. In conditions of — to put it mildly — minimal funding, the Defense Ministry and FBIS-SOV-96- 108 4 June 1996 the Navy Command are forced to complete ships laid down earlier rather than building new ones. Recently the central nuclear installations on the heavy nuclear mis- sile cruiser Petr Velikiy w: re successfully tested. The cruiser is scheduled to enter operational service by the end of the year. As is the large anti-submarine warfare ship Admiral Chabanenko. [080622] [video shows Gro- mov addressing conference; moored warships; general shipyard footage, partial views of missile cruiser Petr Velikiy; rear view of large ASW ship Admiral Chaba- nenko at sea] [080622-081133 — passage omitted — brief inter- views with Gromov and fleet commanders Yerofeyev, Yegorov, Kravchenko and Kuroyedov) Russia: Procedure for Nuclear Export-Import Controls Approved MM0406093196 Moscow ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA in Russian 23 May 96 p 3 {Russian Federation Government Decree No. 574 "On Approving the Statute on the Procedure Governing the Export and Import of Nuclear Materials, Equipment, Special Nonnuclear Materials, and Corresponding Tech- nologies,” signed by Russian Federation Government Chairman Viktor Chernomyrdin in Moscow on 8 May 1996 — from the ‘Documents’ section] (FBIS Translated Text] In accordance with the Federal law “On the Use of Atomic Energy,” the Russian Federation Government decrees that: 1. The appended “Statute on the Procedure Governing the Export and Import of Nuclear Materials, Equipment, Special Nonnuclear Materials, and Corresponding Tech- nologies” (Footnote) (Published in ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA’s Business in Russia supplement 18 May) is approved. The aforementioned Statute be enacted as of 19 May 1996. 2. The Russian Federal Service for Currency and Export Control, the Russian Federation Ministry for Atomic En- ergy, the Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Eco- nomic Relations, the Russian Federation Foreign Min- istry, and the Russian Federation State Customs Com- mittee must ensure the organization of control over the export and import of nuclear materials, equipment, spe- cial nonauciear materials, and corresponding technolo- gies. 3. The following decrees be deemed inoperative as of 19 May 1996: Russian Federation Government Decree No. 1005 "On the Procedure Governing the Export and Import of Nu- RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS 33 clear Materials, Technology, Equipment, and Installa- tions, Special Nonnuclear Materials, and Radioactive Sources of Ionizing Radiation and Isotope Production,” dated 21 December; Russian Federation Government Decree No. 1136 “On Making Changes and Additions to the Statute on the Procedure Governing the Export and Import of Nuclear of Nuclear Materials, ™schnology, Equipment, and In- stallations, Special Nonnuclear materials, and Radioac- tive Sources of Ionizing Radiation and Isotope Produc- tion,” dated 6 October 1994 (SOBRANIYE ZAKON- ODATELSTVA ROSSIYSKOY FEDERATSII No. 25, 1994, p 2706); Russian Federation Government Decree No. 288 “On Making Changes and Additions to the Statute on the Procedure Governing the Export and Impori of Nuclear Materials, Technology, Equipment, and Installations, Special Nonnuclear materials, and Radioactive Sources of Ionizing Radiation and Isotope Production,” dated 22 March 1995 (SOBRANIYE ZAKONODATELSTVA ROSSIYSKOY FEDERATSII No. 13, 1995, p 1148); 4. The Russian Foreign Ministry is to send International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Hans Blix a note confirming the Russian Party’s agreement to the changes made to the Guiding Principles of Nuclear Exports at the session of the Group of Nuclear Suppliers in Helsinki 5-7 April 1995. [signed] Viktor Chernomyrdin, chairman of the Russian Federation Government [dated] 8 May 1996, Moscow Federal Assembly Russia: Duma Schedules Hearings on Military Reforms LD0306172196 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1704 GMT 3 Jun 96 {FBIS Transcribed Text] MOSCOW, June 3 (Interfax) - A schedule of closed parliamentary hearings on military reform in Russia was approved Monday, Duma Defense Committee chairman Lev Rokhlin, Our Home Is Russia, told Interfax. He said that this decision was made at an expanded meeting of the Duma’s Defense and Security committees and the Federation Council's Security and Defense Committee. Rokhlin said that closed parliamentary hearings will proceed in three stages on July 1-18. The first one will address the building of Russia's armed forces in the period of military reform. is report may contain ohaed “Eom ee —ae is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. M RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS The second stage will cover the supplies of military hardware and increasing the potential of defense indus- tries. The final stage will culminate in advice to the president on the short- and long-term (until the year 2005) periods. Advice will also be worked out for the two houses of the Federal Assembly on the legal framework for military reform. In particular, the State Duma Council will consider a bill under which a permanent Military Council reporting to the president would be set up. Under the bill, the council would make decisions in the field of the country’ defense and security. The council would include the prime minister and his first deputy, the secretary of the Russian Security Council, the president's chief of staff, foreign, defense, interior and defense industry ministers, the head of the General Staff, the directors of the Federal Security Service, the Foreign Intelligence Service and the Federal Border Guards Service, the inspector general-Military Council secretary and council secretaries as well as the president. The Military Council would, under the bill, submit proposals to the president about the appointments and dismissal of ministers and heads of agencies having to do with defense. Russia: Federation Council Replies to Admirals’ Plea for Navy MK3005 140096 Moscow NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA (NEZAVISIMOYE VOYENNOYE OBOZRENIYE Supplement No. 10) in Russian 30 May 96 pl [Unattributed “NVO" report under the “In Brief” rubric: “Russia”) {FBIS Translated Text) NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA of 1 March 1996 published an appeal by 12 Russian Navy admirals to Federation Council Chairman Yegor Stroyev. The message expressed extreme anxiety about the country’s navy. On 30 April, the authors of the appeal received a reply signed by Yevgeniy Anikin, head of the Federation Council apparatus in charge of security and defense matters. It says: “The letter of the naval veteran admirals about the state of the Navy and measures to maintain its combat readiness has been attentively studied in the Federation Council committee for question of security and defense. The committee has made the following decisions: 1. To address a letter from the Federal Assembly's Federation Council chairman to the Russian Federation on the state of crisis in the Navy and the ways to resolve the Navy's problems. FBIS-SOV-96-108 4 June 1996 2. To hold parliamentary hearings during September- October 1996 on the Navy with a similar agenda jointly with the State Duma. 3. To discuss problems of the Navy at the sessions of the Federal Assembly houses with an objective to pass a package of draft laws on lifting out of crisis the Navy and industrial enterprises working in its interests and on raising the Navy’s combat readiness.” Russia: State Duma To Discuss Revival of Cossack Organizations LD0306082196 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 0557 GMT 3 Jun 96 {By Igor Zhukov} ([FBIS Transcribed Text] MOSCOW June 3 (Itar-Tass) — In State Duma on Monday, the Committee on Geopolitics, together for a number of other committees of the Lower House of the Russian parliament is to hold a meeting on the subject "the revival of Cossack organisations in Russia”. The purpose of the meeting will be to analyse the present state of the Cossack organisations and their role in the life of Russian society, to scrutinise the current legislation on the revival of the Cossack organisations system and to look for juridical ways to accomplish the tasks of developing it still further. The meeting is to be attended by representatives of the Presidential administration of Russia, the Main Cossacks Department to the Head of State, the Security Council of the Russian Federation, the Ministry for Ethnic Affairs, the Interior Ministry, the General Staff of the Armed Forces and the Federal Border Service of Russia. Participants in the meeting are expected to work out a concept of further development of Cossack organisa- tions in southern regions of the Russian Federation. Regional Affairs Russia: Moscow Reports Cease-Fire Violations in Chechnya to OSCE LD0306183496 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1824 GMT 3 Jun 96 [By Aleksandr Kharchenko] (FBIS Transcribed Text] GROZNYY, June 3 (Itar-Tass) — Russian officials informed Tim Guidimann, the head of the mission of the Organisation for Security and Co- operation in Europe (OSCE) in Chechnya, about vio- lations of the May 27 ceasefire agreement by Chechen separatists. is report may contain heed