[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 40 (Monday, October 11, 1993)]
[Pages 2011-2012]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement by the Press Secretary on the President's Telephone 
Conversation With President Boris Yeltsin of Russia

 October 5, 1993

    The President called President Yeltsin today from Air Force One to 
discuss the situation in Moscow. The two leaders spoke for 20 minutes. 
The President's purpose in calling was to express the continued, strong 
support of the United States for President Yeltsin and the Russian 
Government in the wake of the political crisis in Russia.
    President Yeltsin thanked the President for his support during the 
crisis and described the events of the last few days. He reported that 
order had been restored to Moscow. In response to a question from the 
President, he also reaffirmed his intention to hold free and fair 
elections on December 12 and to proceed resolutely on political and 
economic reform in general.
    The two leaders pledged to work together to continue to build close 
relations between the United States and Russia. The President noted in 
this respect his intention to implement rapidly the $2.5 billion in 
economic assistance funds approved by the Congress last week for Russia 
and the other new states. The President added that the visits to Russia 
this autumn of several American Cabinet of- 

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ficers, including Secretary of State Christopher later this month, will 
help to move the relationship forward.