CHINA: YELTSIN LASHES OUT AT CLINTON OVER CHECHNYA

(9 Dec 1999) English/Nat Having won Chinese support for Russia’s military campaign in Chechnya, Boris Yeltsin has lashed out at U-S President Bill Clinton, reminding him Russia still has a nuclear arsenal. At a meeting with Li Peng, China’s legislative chairman and the communist government’s most hard-line leader, the Russian president scorned Washington for trying to dictate how the world should behave. In Moscow however, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin stressed there had been no cooling of relations between his country and the U-S. It was a stunning message from a world leader known for his often angry outbursts. The Russian President told reporters he wanted them to send a message to President Clinton who has sharply criticised Moscow over its military campaign in Chechnya. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) “(US President Bill) Clinton allowed himself to pressure Russia.“ SUPER CAPTION: Boris Yeltsin, Russian President Yeltsin, who left hospital on Monday after a week battling pneumonia and who appeared frail and stiff, said Washington should keep in mind Moscow remains a powerful military force. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) “He must have, for a minute, a second, a half-minute, forgotten what Russia is. That Russia is equipped with a full arsenal of nuclear weapons. He forgot about this. And so he decided to flex his muscles, as we say.“ SUPER CAPTION: Boris Yeltsin, Russian President Yeltsin’s visit to China is aimed at firming up support for Moscow’s military campaign in Chechnya. Earlier in the day he had held meetings with Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji. The Russian president indicated he and his Chinese neighbours don’t want to be pushed around any longer by the U-S. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) “And I want to say, through you (the media): Clinton, don’t forget what world you live in. You didn’t, and you won’t dictate to the whole world how to live, how to labour, how to work, how to relax and so forth. No, once again no. This multipolar world is based on the things we discussed with Jiang Zemin, President of the Chinese People’s Republic - we will dictate to the world how to live, and not only him.“ SUPER CAPTION: Boris Yeltsin, Russian President Speaking in Moscow at a press conference with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin elaborated on Yeltsin’s comments in China. Putin also said a warning, and not an ultimatum, had been issued to the citizens of Grozny. SOUNDBITE (Russian) “Russia is a great country and is not afraid of anyone or anything and will not be afraid. Secondly, there was no ultimatum, there was a warning to peaceful citizens that they should evacuate Grozny and the immediate area surrounding it. This was a measure taken with the peaceful people in mind.“ SUPER CAPTION: Vladimir Putin, Russian Prime Minister The Russian Prime Minister also stressed Russia’s keenness to maintain friendly relations with all countries and insisted there was no deteriorating relationship between Russia and the U-S. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) “I consider it absolutely incorrect that there has been cooling of relations between Russia and the United States. I am sure the comments of the United States president and the Russian president did not have that intent. As for the Russia’s nuclear policy, it has existed, it exists, and it will continue to exist.“ SUPER CAPTION: Vladimir Putin, Russian Prime Minister Criticism of Russia has increased since it dropped leaflets over Grozny on Saturday, ordering its people to leave the city before December 11. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: