[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 25 (Monday, June 24, 1996)]
[Pages 1071-1072]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Russian Election Results

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.

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