    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book II)]
    [December 22, 1993]
    [Page 2202]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement by the Press Secretary on the President's Telephone
    Conversation With President Boris Yeltsin of Russia
    December 22, 1993

        The President telephoned Russian President Yeltsin in Moscow this
    morning. The two leaders spoke for 30 minutes.
        The President offered his congratulations to President Yeltsin and
    the Russian people on the recent free and fair elections held in Russia
    and on the adoption of a new constitution. President Yeltsin said that
    he and the Russian Government intended to work well and constructively
    with the new Parliament.
        The two leaders discussed preparations for their January meetings in
    Moscow, agreeing that part of the agenda would include a review of U.S.-
    Russian economic cooperation to date. In this connection the President
    reaffirmed strong U.S. support for economic reform and democracy in
    Russia. President Yeltsin confirmed his intention to continue a firm
    course of economic reform in Russia.
        The two Presidents also discussed foreign policy issues that will be
    on the agenda for their January meetings. They agreed on the need to
    continue the cooperative tripartite dialog with Ukraine, with the aim of
    resolving the complex set of nuclear issues. President Yeltsin affirmed
    that Russia had no intention of interfering in the affairs of its
    neighbors. The President reiterated the U.S. hope for concrete movement
    on the question of the withdrawal of Russian troops from Latvia and
    Estonia.