RUSSIA: YELTSIN ACCUSED OF SELLING OUT TO THE WEST ON NATO TREATY

(17 Apr 1997) Russian/Eng/Nat

There were mixed reactions in Moscow Thursday to the news that Russia will sign a treaty
on its relations with NATO in Paris on May 27.

Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov responded bitterly to the announcement, accusing the Russian President of selling out to the West.

Liberal lawmaker Gregory Yavlinsky said Yeltsin's statement was meaningless, because nobody knows the content of the treaty.

After making progress in talks with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, Russian President Boris Yeltsin said Thursday he will sign an agreement on relations with NATO.

Both leaders declined to give details of their negotiations on the eastward expansion of NATO, which has been vehemently opposed by Russia.

Leader of the liberal faction Yabloko, Gregory Yavlinsky, said it was too early to comment on the issue.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I think the statement of Mr. Yeltsin doesn't mean a lot because it is not clear what kind of document will be signed and we have a tradition in Russia to say that something will be signed with no idea of what would be signed exactly, I think it's too early even to discuss this issue."
SUPER CAPTION: Gregory Yavlinsky, leader Yabloko party

Communist Party Chief Gennady Zyuganov, a strong opponent of Boris Yeltsin, accused the Russian President of betraying the nation's interests.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"Yeltsin has completely given away everything that he could. Only our national security was left and he decided to sell it. It looks like NATO made him an ultimatum and none of his friends, not Kohl or Bill, even considered Russia's interests and our tragic past during the last century, two world wars for which we paid with 30 (m) million lives. As President he couldn't handle not one of his duties, and now he's trying to save face after losing the game."
SUPER CAPTION: Gennady Zyuganov, leader Russian Communist Party

Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic are widely expected to be the first of the many eager eastern European countries to join the Western defense alliance.

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