Yeltsin to skip G-7 conference
June 19, 1996
Web posted at: 12:00 p.m. EDT (1600 GMT)MOSCOW (CNN) -- Russian President Boris Yeltsin said Wednesday he will not attend an economic summit with major world leaders next week, but will send a representative.
Yeltsin wants to focus on the election runoff between him and Communist rival Gennady Zyuganov. The race may be held July 3. The Russian Duma, or parliament, expects to vote on the date Friday.
"Russia is living through a very important part of its history right now," Yeltsin said at the Kremlin. "In several days, the runoff will take place, which will determine the fate of Russia and, to a certain extent, the rest of the world. It's important for me to be here."
Instead of Yeltsin, Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin will attend the G-7 economic summit in Lyon, France, June 27-29. G-7 members are the United States, Britain, France, Canada, Italy, Germany and Japan.
Russia is not an official member of G-7, but there has been frequent talk about letting it join. Yeltsin has attended a number of past meetings. For doing so, Communists have accused him of being a puppet for Western interests.
Yeltsin said he spoke with President Clinton and French President Jacques Chirac about his decision. Both said they understood, according to Yeltsin.
Yeltsin solidifies support
Yeltsin acted swiftly Tuesday to boost his support by naming retired Gen. Alexander Lebed as the head of national security. Lebed finished third in recent presidential elections, and he predicted that 80 percent of his supporters would vote for Yeltsin.
Zyuganov, jockeying for popularity as well, met with Lebed later. The two discussed "economic, social, and personal security" matters, Zyuganov said.
"An electorate can't be inherited like serfs," he told a news conference. "We have to talk to the Lebed electorate."
He said a coalition government is inevitable: "The nation split -- one-third has voted for Yeltsin and one-third for us."
In other developments:
- Ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky, who finished fifth in the first round of elections, said his supporters will not vote for Communists.
- Official final returns from the first round of voting were still not available Wednesday, officials for the Central Electoral Commission said. About 99 percent of the vote has been tabulated.
- Georgy Satarov, a key Yeltsin campaign aide, said the Russian president had not met with fourth-place finisher Grigory Yavlinsky, but likely will. Yavlinsky has said he would not support a Yeltsin government, but he predicted most of his supporters would.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Yeltsin bolsters runoff bid, names ex-rival security chief - June 18, 1996
- Pivotal Elections: Russia
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