DATE=1/25/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244657
TITLE=RUSSIA/ALBRIGHT--2ND UPDATE  (L)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

///UPDATES WITH MEETINGS CONCLUDING; NEW COMMENTS AND OTHER 
DETAILS WITH REWRITES THROUGHOUT///

INTRO:  SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS HEARD SHARP 
CRITICISM OF U-S POLICIES FROM SENIOR RUSSIAN OFFICIALS DURING 
HER FIRST DAY OF TALKS IN MOSCOW.  V-O-A'S PETER HEINLEIN IN 
MOSCOW REPORTS MS. ALBRIGHT'S SCHEDULE INCLUDES MEETINGS WITH 
POTENTIAL 21ST CENTURY RUSSIAN LEADERS.

TEXT:  SECRETARY ALBRIGHT'S FIRST STOP IN MOSCOW WAS THE FOREIGN 
MINISTRY FOR TALKS WITH HER RUSSIAN COUNTERPART, IGOR IVANOV. A 
U-S OFFICIAL DESCRIBED THE MEETING AS "CORDIAL," AIMED AT 
NARROWING DIFFERENCES ON DIVISIVE ISSUES, INCLUDING THE U-S 
REQUEST TO OVERHAUL THE ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE TREATY.

MR. IVANOV AND OTHER RUSSIAN OFFICIALS ARE STRONGLY OPPOSED TO 
THE IDEA OF ALTERING THE 1972 ACCORD.  MS. ALBRIGHT PLAYED DOWN 
DIFFERENCES, TELLING REPORTERS THERE IS  NO   QUESTION OF THE U-S
WITHDRAWING FROM THE TREATY.  SHE SAID WASHINGTON SIMPLY WANTS 
THE AGREEMENT AMENDED TO ALLOW FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A NUCLEAR 
MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM.

A SENIOR RUSSIAN DEFENSE OFFICIAL MONDAY ACCUSED THE UNITED 
STATES OF VIOLATING BOTH THE A-B-M TREATY AND THE "START ONE" 
(STRATEGIC ARMS LIMITATION) NUCLEAR ARMS REDUCTION AGREEMENT. BUT
A STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN IN MOSCOW SAID THE UNITED STATES 
BELIEVES IT IS IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH BOTH ACCORDS. 

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT SCHEDULE ALSO INCLUDED A MEETING WITH MOSCOW 
MAYOR AND POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE YURI LUZHKOV.  THE TWO
HELD WHAT A STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN DESCRIBED AS A "BLUNT 
EXCHANGE" ABOUT U-S POLICY ON SUBJECTS SUCH AS IRAQ AND KOSOVO. 

THE SPOKESMAN SAID MS. ALBRIGHT STOOD HER GROUND UNDER THE 
MAYOR'S FIRE, EXPLAINING THE REASONS BEHIND U-S POLICY.

AFTERWARD, MR. LUZHKOV TOLD JOURNALISTS HE WAS IMPRESSED BY THE 
SECRETARY'S FORTHRIGHT MANNER.

    ///LUZHKOV ACT IN RUSSIAN, ESTABLISH, THEN FADE TO...///

HE SAYS, "I LIKED HER HONESTY, HER CLARITY AND HER CANDOR."

//OPT// MS. ALBRIGHT LATER VISITED THE COMMUNIST SPEAKER OF 
PARLIAMENT, GENNADY SELEZNYOV, WHERE SHE HEARD A COMPLAINT ABOUT 
WHAT MR. SELEZNYOV CALLED THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND'S 
UNFAIR TREATMENT OF RUSSIA. //END OPT//

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT'S SCHEDULE ALSO INCLUDES TALKS WITH FORMER 
FOREIGN MINISTER -- NOW PRIME MINISTER -- YEVGENY PRIMAKOV, AS 
WELL AS WITH OTHER POTENTIAL CONTENDERS IN THE YEAR 2000 
PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST. A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH HOSPITALIZED 
RUSSIAN LEADER BORIS YELTSIN IS ALSO CONSIDERED POSSIBLE. 

//REST OPT// MS. ALBRIGHT LEAVES RUSSIA WEDNESDAY, MAKING STOPS 
IN EGYPT, SAUDI ARABIA, BRITAIN AND FRANCE BEFORE RETURNING TO 
WASHINGTON. (SIGNED)

NEB/PFH/PCF/JO

25-Jan-99 2:58 PM EST (1958 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.