DATE=9/20/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=US/RUSSIA CORRUPTION (S-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254118
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:


INTRO:  Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov says his 
government wants what he calls an unbiased 
investigation into allegations of government 
corruption. He says Moscow shares U-S concerns that 
billions of dollars from Russia may have been 
laundered through foreign banks.  Last week, Secretary 
of State Madeleine Albright warned if the allegations 
prove to be true, future international aid could be 
jeopardized.  V-O-A's Nick Simeone reports the issue 
was one of several she and her Russian counterpart 
discussed Monday night in New York.

TEXT:  Russian President Boris Yeltsin has called 
corruption allegations politically motivated.  But 
now, Foreign Minister Ivanov says Moscow wants to find 
out the facts as much as the United States does, 
through a fair investigation.  He spoke through a 
translator.

            // IVANOV ACT  //

      We have an interest, which is no less than the 
      American interest, that the money would be 
      utilized to satisfy the needs of the Russian 
      people rather than elsewhere.  That is why we 
      have an interest in the success of such 
      investigations and our interest is in ensuring 
      the transparency of our economy.  

            // END ACT //

Last week, Secretary Albright used unusually strong 
language to denounce the Yeltsin government's response 
toward allegations of high level corruption, saying 
the Kremlin had not made investigating the matter a 
priority.  Foreign Minister Ivanov says Moscow is 
cooperating with authorities from the United States 
and other countries looking into the movement of more 
than four billion dollars from Russia through the Bank 
of New York.  (SIGNED) 

NEB/NJS/TVM




20-Sep-1999 21:25 PM EDT (21-Sep-1999 0125 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.