Clinton, Yeltsin to keep pressure on India, Pak

In a statement before fielding questions from media persons, Clinton exhorted Russia for taking “important steps” in recent months, to tighten its export controls on weapons of mass destruction and missiles and penalise offenders. He was referring to the government ban on three Russian companies recently for carrying on transactions with Iran.

The pacts signed today focus on exchanging information on anti-missile alert systems and on reduction by 50 tonnes their stocks of military plutonium.

Clinton said the two Presidents had agreed to combat international terrorism and deepen cooperation between America and Russiaagainst the global danger.

“We agreed that there is no possible justification for terrorism as it is murder pure and simple,” he declared.

Both Yeltsin and Clinton termed their summit a “success” and “productive,” saying their cooperation has made the world a safer place.

In a typically boastful performance, Yeltsin tried to play down the current economic and political crisis, pledging they will be resolved successfully in the near future. He also pledged to continue market reforms.

He, however, gave no details of how he planned to solve the crisis. Nor did he explain how he would settle the deepening political crisis, following the standoff with the State Duma over the confirmation of Viktor Chernomyrdin as Prime Minister.

Answering a question on whether he would dissolve the Duma if it failed to confirm Chernomyrdin, he said, “A lot of events will take place.”

On his part, Clinton promised more Western support if Russia stays on its reforms course.

“Unless there is a manifestcommitment to reform, the economy will not get better. So I support Mr Yeltsin’s commitment in that regard,” he said.

Observers called the summit an “economic summit” as most of the talks between the two Presidents centered around Russia’s economic crisis and political uncertainty, in the wake of rejection by the Duma, of Chernomyrdin as Prime Minister.

It was certainly a very subdued press conference for the two outgoing leaders. Perhaps on the US part, because it was also the first press conference Clinton gave since admitting to the American people, what he called, an inappropriate relationship with the young White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

Earlier in the day, the State Duma decided to discuss Chernomyrdin’s nomination for the second time on Friday.