(13 Apr 1998) Russian/Nat
President Boris Yeltsin has used an award ceremony to underline his backing for Sergei Kiriyenko as Russia's Prime Minister.
Yeltsin said he would continue to nominate Kiriyenko - despite his rejection by the country's Parliament.
And he again threatened to dissolve the Duma if deputies refused to fall into line.
It was an awards ceremony that turned into a political platform for the Russian president.
Yeltsin was rewarding some of Russia's top cosmonauts for their brave service in space.
But he took the opportunity to promote, once again, his controversial acting Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko - greeting him warmly ahead of all the others in the room.
The Russian parliament has already rejected Kiriyenko for the post of permanent Prime Minister but a second vote on his candidacy will be held at the end of this week.
Yeltsin has made it clear that he refuses to be challenged on the matter - and a full scale collision with the Duma could lead to a dissolution of the lower house.
At the ceremony, Yeltsin repeated his support for Kiriyenko saying he was sure the former Fuel and Energy Minister would be approved for the post of Prime Minister.
Yeltsin hinted at a compromise - raising the possibility that some of the Duma's candidates for Ministerial posts might be accepted.
But he made it clear that the position of Prime Minister was taken.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"Sergei Vladilenovich Kiriyenko... I am absolutely sure that he will be the Government's Representative, the Prime Minister. If anyone doubts this that is their own problem."
SUPER CAPTION: Boris Yeltsin, Russian President
Yeltsin has taken a calculated risk.
By throwing the gauntlet down to his political enemies Yeltsin knows that cannot withdraw Kiriyenko's candidacy during a second and possibly third vote.
But his enemies are also refusing to back down.
Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov, who unsuccessfully ran for the presidency in 1996, has announced that he will vote against Sergei Kiriyenko in Friday's poll.
He said his party, the People's Patriotic Front and the communist bloc do not support Yeltsin's nominee
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"We reached a decision that the three communist factions in the Duma should vote against Kiriyenko's candidacy since he does not satisfy the requirements for the Prime Minister of this country. In addition, a lot was discussed about his personal behaviour. He has spoken of the modesty and honesty of the government but it's not at all honest to continue to run for Prime Minister when you have only got thirty-one per cent of the vote."
SUPER CAPTION: Gennady Zyuganov, People's Patriotic Front
Together, the opposition parties control 213 seats in the Duma.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
