DATE=12/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243251
TITLE=RUSSIA / IRAQ WRAP (L-ONLY) 
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  RUSSIA HAS STEPPED UP ITS CRITICISM OF U-S AIRSTRIKES ON 
IRAQ, QUESTIONING THE COUNTRY'S RELATIONS WITH NATO AND RECALLING
AMBASSADORS FROM LONDON AND WASHINGTON.  AS V-O-A'S EVE CONANT 
REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, RUSSIA'S LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT IS 
CALLING FOR AN END TO U-N SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ.

TEXT:  RUSSIA'S LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT FRIDAY OVERWHELMINGLY 
APPROVED A NON-BINDING RESOLUTION ASKING PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN 
TO RESUME ECONOMIC AND MILITARY COOPERATION WITH IRAQ.  DEPUTY 
SPEAKER OF THE PARLIAMENT, SERGEY BABURIN, LED THE CHARGE, 
CALLING IRAQ "A VICTIM."

          ///ACT OF BABURIN IN RUSSIAN -- FADE UNDER///

HE SAYS "OUR RECOMMENDATION TO THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT IS TO RESUME
ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH THE COUNTRY WHICH HAS FOUND ITSELF THE 
VICTIM OF AGGRESSION." 

BUT RUSSIA IS ALSO HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON WESTERN FINANCIAL AID. 
EARLIER FRIDAY, RUSSIA'S FIRST DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, YURI 
MASLYKOV, SAID RUSSIA'S RESPONSE TO THE STRIKES SHOULD  NOT  
AFFECT RELATIONS WITH LENDERS AT THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND.

RUSSIA'S DEFENSE MINISTRY IS ALSO REEXAMINING ITS RELATIONS WITH 
THE WEST.  IN A STRONGLY WORDED STATEMENT, DEFENSE MINISTER IGOR 
SERGEYEV SAID THE IRAQI CRISIS WAS FORCING A REASSESSMENT OF 
OVERALL SECURITY STRATEGY. HE QUESTIONED THE VALUE OF MOSCOW'S 
PARTNERSHIP AND COOPERATION WITH NATO, SAYING RUSSIA'S OPINION IS
OPENLY IGNORED BY THE WESTERN ALLIANCE.

KREMLIN OFFICIALS SAY THEY HOPE RECENT EVENTS ARE NOT THE 
FORERUNNER OF A FUTURE ALLIANCE IN WHICH UNILATERAL MILITARY 
ACTION WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE. 

EARLIER, RUSSIA RECALLED ITS AMBASSADORS TO LONDON AND WASHINGTON
FOR CONSULTATIONS BUT PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN DMITRY YAKUSHKIN 
STRESSED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WILL REMAIN INTACT.

 ///ACT OF YAKUSHKIN IN RUSSIAN -- ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER/// 

HE SAYS, "THERE CAN BE NO TALK OF A BREAK!IN RELATIONS WITH 
BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES. WE MUST NOT LET THINGS SLIDE INTO 
CONFRONTATION."

MR. YAKUSHKIN CONFIRMED REPORTS THAT SOME RUSSIAN MILITARY UNITS 
ARE ON HEIGHTENED ALERT, BUT EMPHASIZED SUCH MEASURES WERE 
ROUTINE DURING PERIODS OF INTERNATIONAL TENSION. 

THE MILITARY STRIKES ON IRAQ HAVE DEALT A DEEP BLOW TO MOSCOW'S 
PRESTIGE.  RUSSIA HAD BEEN TRYING TO BROKER A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION
TO THE IRAQI CRISIS AND WAS HOPING TO REGAIN THE POLITICAL 
INFLUENCE IT EXERCISED DURING THE COLD WAR. (SIGNED)

NEB/EC/PCF/RRM

18-Dec-98 1:11 PM EST (1811 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.