Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 17, 1993 TAG: 9312170235
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MOSCOW LENGTH: Medium
"The mood and spirit of our deliberations has been extraordinary," Vice President Al Gore said as the ink dried on 17 agreements, including a 300-page contract adding Russia to the international space station project.
"I found the Russian leadership in a positive, determined and confident mood, committed to moving ahead with democracy and reform," he said.
Despite the public celebration, a senior administration official with Gore said the electoral success of nationalist, anti-reform leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky and depressed Russian economy had convinced the administration that Western allies need to reassess their Russia aid strategy before President Clinton's January summit with Russian President Boris Yeltsin.
"It is inevitable that the West . . . will have to grapple in a new way with the basic question of how Russia is pulled toward recovery and reform and away from the edge of the slope represented by Zhirinovsky," the senior official said.
The official said Clinton believed nationalists like Zhirinovsky would only gain strength if Russia's economy is not turned around.
The U.S.-Russian space cooperation deal heralded by Gore was struck months ago and Thursday's ceremony was arranged merely to sign the contract. And the new investment accords were relatively modest, including a $125 million grant for Russia to buy energy efficiency equipment and new joint U.S.-Russian ventures in gold mining, heavy engine manufacturing and nuclear power plant safety.
So the leaders emphasized the symbolism of their meeting as proof Russia was maturing as a democracy, able to carry on its foreign affairs even as it copes with internal political upheaval.
To make that point, Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin closed a news conference by throwing his fist in the air and delivering a personal message to the American people, not with the scowl that accompanied that gesture in the Cold War days but the warm smile of an old friend.
"There is no need to be afraid of Russia, no reason to fear Russia," Chernomyrdin said.
Still, Gore took the opportunity to rebuke Zhirinovsky, whose anti-reform party scored surprising success in parliamentary elections.
"Neither I nor my country can remain silent about the outrageous and reprehensible views with which he has associated himself," Gore said, before comparing Zhirinovsky with Hitler.
Zhirinovsky has advocated reviving the Russian empire and has said he would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons.
Gore and Chernomyrdin said the agreements were historic because they would nudge Russia further toward industrial privatization and direct new aid to areas of Russia hardest hit by defense cutbacks.
by CNB