    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
    [June 18, 1996]
    [Page 928]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Russian Presidential Election
    June 18, 1996

        I spoke with President Yeltsin this morning and conveyed through him
    to the Russian people my warm congratulations on the election, which is
    a success for Russia as a whole.
        On Sunday, more than 70 million Russian citizens--representing about
    70 percent of the eligible voters--voted in the first round of the
    Presidential election that will determine who will lead the Russian
    Federation for the next 4 years. They were able to choose among 10
    candidates representing a wide range of political views in a contested
    election. Russian and international observers have reported nothing thus
    far to indicate any significant irregularities in the voting process.
        This is an important milestone in Russia's history as a democracy
    and a welcome sign of just how far that country has come in a few short
    years. The runoff round will allow the Russian people to complete the
    process of electing their President.
        A critical element of our post-cold-war relationship with Russia is
    its continuing development as a democracy. The United States will remain
    steady in its policy of active engagement with Russia to support
    political and economic reform and Russia's integration with the West.