Russian Communist candidate tells Americans not to worry

May 26, 1996
Web posted at: 9:15 p.m. EDT (0115 GMT)

MOSCOW (CNN) -- Gennady Zyuganov, the Communist Party candidate challenging Boris Yeltsin for the Russian presidency said Americans have nothing to fear should he win the election.

"Do I look like an aggressive person?" he asked during an interview broadcast Sunday by Fox television network. "I am categorically opposed to war, and I consider that it will bring us nothing of good."

The Communist Party leader added that he is concerned about the dangers posed to the planet by nuclear weapons.

With the election only three weeks away, polls published Sunday show Zyuganov trailing Yeltsin by four to 12 percentage points.

Zyuganov said he believes the former republics of the USSR will be reunited. There would be "a gradual democratic voluntary restoration of democratic links" between the former Soviet republics, he said.

There would be good relations between Russia and the United States as long as the U.S. respected his people's tradition of "collectivism," he said.

"I respect the talented American people and their traditions, and in return, I would like them to respect our spiritual, cultural values, our values of collectivism which is peculiar to us and our history and our ancestors," he said. "Without this recognition we cannot have normal relations."

Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, also interviewed on the Fox program, said the U.S. should not try to influence the Russia elections and should keep out of Russia's domestic affairs.

However, Kissinger said, after the elections the U.S. should send a clear message to the winner that Russia should leave the other former Soviet republics alone.

"Right now, we should keep quiet," Kissinger said. "After the election, we should treat Russia like an adult, major nation and make clear to them that they will be judged by their foreign policy conduct and that they cannot make all these statements."

Related stories:

• Communist leader Zyuganov stumps for votes - May 23, 1996
• Can Zyuganov's populist appeal beat Yeltsin? - May 21, 1996
• Yeltsin says progress slow on pre-election deal - May 18, 1996
• Yeltsin gets boost from CIS leaders, new poll - May 17, 1996
• Ad blitz kicks off Russian campaign season - May 16, 1996
• Russians scoff at conflicting polls - May 13, 1996

Related sites:

• Russia Today (election news)
• Russian Elections
• Maximov's election special
• Russia: Elections '95 (available in English and Russian)
• Russian Presidential Elections - 96

Related newsgroups:

• talk.politics.soviet
• soc.culture.russian
• soc.culture.russian.moderated

(Certain newsgroups may not be available on your news server)

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