DATE=12/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243216
TITLE=RUSSIA/U-S-IRAQ-UPDATE (S-ONLY-UPDATE)
BYLINE=BILL RODGERS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 


INTRO:  RUSSIA IS RECALLING ITS AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES, 
TO PROTEST U-S AND BRITISH AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ.  V-O-A'S 
BILL RODGERS REPORTS.

TEXT:  THE RUSSIAN DECISION TO RECALL AMBASSADOR YULI VORONTSOV 
FOR CONSULTATIONS FOLLOWS A SHARPLY-CRITICAL STATEMENT BY RUSSIAN
PRESIDENU BORIS YELTSIN, IN WHICH HE DENOUNCED TIE AIR ATTACKS 
AGAINST!IRAQ AS!A FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF!THE U-N CHARTER.  IT IS 
THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS THAT MOSCOW HAS RECALLED ITS ENVOY 
TO THE UNITED STATES -- BUT COMES AS MR. VORONTSOV, A CAREER 
DIPLOMAT, IS READY TO RETIRE.  THE KREMLIN HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED 
HIS SUCCESSOR [ -- YURI USHAKOV].

STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAY U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE 
ALBRIGHT WAS INFORMED OF THE RUSSIAN DECISION LATE THURSDAY.  
NEWS AGENCIES QUOTE SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN AS ACKNOWLEDGING THE 
TWO NATIONS HAVE DIFFERENCES OVER THE USE OF FORCE AGAINST IRAQ. 
BUT HE SAYS WASHINGTON WILL CONTINUE WORKING WITH MOSCOW ON A 
VARIETY OF BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL ISSUES.   (SIGNED)

NEB/WFR/WTW

17-Dec-98 9:16 PM EST (0216 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.