(29 Jul 1999) Russian/Nat
Russian Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin, who just returned from the United States, briefed President Boris Yeltsin on Thursday about his recent trip.
The two Russian leaders were meeting on Thursday at the Kremlin to discuss a new I-M-F loan for Russia and the status of renewed talks concerning arms control.
Stepashin's visit was intended to ease troubled relations between the U-S and Russia over the NATO bombing campaign in Yugoslavia.
Yeltsin supported his Prime Minister's visit and welcomed Stepashin's good news.
Shortly after Stepashin returned to Moscow, the I-M-F announced a 4.5 (b) billion U-S dollar loan for Russia, the largest credit for the country since its financial markets crashed last August.
Stepashin addressed members of the government.
TRANSLATION OF SOUNDBITES TO FOLLOW...
Stepashin and Vice President Al Gore also agreed to open the U-S - Russian talks next month aimed at deeper cuts in both countries' nuclear arsenals.
After his meeting with Yeltsin, Stepashin said Gore would visit Moscow in the fall to hold the next session of the joint U.S.-Russian commission.
Stepashin said that the U-S administration also promised to take steps by the fall so that Russia is internationally recognized as a free-market economy - an assessment that is expected to lift some existing barriers in trade relations.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
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SUPER CAPTION: Sergei Stepashin, Russian Prime Minister
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
SUPER CAPTION: Sergei Stepashin, Russian Prime Minister
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
SUPER CAPTION: Sergei Stepashin, Russian Prime Minister
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