DATE=12/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243335
TITLE=RUSSIA/IRAQ  (L)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS RENEWED HIS CRITICISM
OF THE AIR STRIKES ON IRAQ, SAYING MILITARY ACTION HAS ONLY MADE 
MATTERS WORSE.  BUT AS WE HEAR FROM CORRESPONDENT PETER HEINLEIN 
IN MOSCOW, THE COMMENTS WERE FAR LESS CONFRONTATIONAL THAN THOSE 
OF EARLIER DAYS.

TEXT:  PRESIDENT YELTSIN CALLS THE AIR STRIKES "SENSELESS". HE 
SAYS THE USE OF FORCE ONLY COMPLICATES THE SEARCH FOR A SOLUTION 
TO THE STANDOFF OVER WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.

IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE RUSSIAN LEADER WELCOMES THE HALT IN 
MILITARY ACTION, SAYING -- REASON HAS FINALLY PREVAILED.  HE SAYS
NOW THE WORLD MUST DRAW SERIOUS CONCLUSIONS FROM WHAT HE CALLS, 
THESE TRAGIC EVENTS.

THE STATEMENT, ISSUED THROUGH RUSSIAN NEWS AGENCIES, SAYS THE 
NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF THE BOMBINGS ARE STILL BEING CALCULATED.
THEY INCLUDE LOSS OF CIVILIAN LIVES AND SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE
IRAQI ECONOMY, WHICH HE SAYS HAS ALREADY BEEN DRAINED DRY BY 
SANCTIONS.

MR. YELTSIN REPEATS HIS LONGSTANDING CALL FOR IRAQ TO COMPLY WITH
U-N RESOLUTIONS THAT WOULD ALLOW LIFTING OF SANCTIONS.  BUT HE 
SAYS THE WORLD MUST ADDRESS IRAQ'S IMMEDIATE NEEDS.  HE SAID -- 
NOW, MORE THAN EVER BEFORE, THE IRAQIS NEED MASSIVE FOOD AND 
MEDICAL AID.

MOSCOW HAS CONSISTENTLY OPPOSED THE USE OF FORCE AGAINST IRAQ, A 
TRADITIONAL MIDDLE EAST ALLY.  IN HIS STATEMENT SUNDAY, PRESIDENT
YELTSIN URGED STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS, AND 
SAID -- NO COUNTRY HAS THE RIGHT TO VIOLATE THE U-N CHARTER. 

BUT THE STATEMENT WAS MUCH MILDER THAN THE EXPRESSIONS OF OUTRAGE
ISSUED BY RUSSIAN OFFICIALS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BOMBINGS 
STARTED.

THE STANDOFF OVER WEAPONS INSPECTIONS, AND THE SUBSEQUENT 
BOMBINGS HAVE UNDERSCORED RUSSIA'S LOSS OF GLOBAL INFLUENCE.  IN 
HIS FIRST STATEMENT CRITICIZING THE AIR STRIKES, MR. YELTSIN MADE
CLEAR HE WAS UPSET AT NOT HAVING BEEN INFORMED IN ADVANCE. 

RUSSIA RECALLED ITS AMBASSADORS FROM WASHINGTON AND LONDON TO 
UNDERSCORE ITS CONDEMNATION OF THE BOMBINGS.  BUT SEVERAL SENIOR 
OFFICIALS HAVE SOUGHT TO SEPARATE SUCH ISSUES AS FOOD AID AND 
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND ASSISTANCE FROM THE DIPLOMATIC 
DISPUTE. 

KREMLIN SPOKESMAN DMITRY YAKUSHKIN TOLD REPORTERS FRIDAY -- THERE
CAN BE NO  TALK OF A RIFT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES OR
BRITAIN. WE MUST  NOT  SLIP INTO THE RHETORIC OF CONFRONTATION.  
(SIGNED)

NEB/PFH/RAE

20-Dec-98 2:43 PM EST (1943 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.