[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.