News

DATE=8/27/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-237791 TITLE=RUSSIA-US PERSPECTIVE (L-ONLY) BYLINE=BARRY WOOD DATELINE=WASHINGTON CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: SOME PROMINENT RUSSIAN ANALYSTS IN WASHINGTON ARE VOICING DEEP FOREBODING ABOUT RUSSIA'S FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL CRISIS. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS. TEXT: ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI , FORMER PRESIDENT CARTER'S TOP SECURITY ADVISER, SAYS RUSSIA IS ENTERING A DANGEROUS CRISIS. SPEAKING ON C-N-B-C TELEVISION, MR. BRZEZINSKI BELIEVES THAT THE COLLAPSE OF THE RUBLE AND THE RETURN OF VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN AS PRIME MINISTER MEANS THAT REFORM AND DEMOCRACY ARE PROBABLY OVER IN RUSSIA. MR. BRZEZINSKI SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS PARTIALLY TO BLAME FOR RUSSIA'S SORRY CONDITION SINCE IT ENCOURAGED WHAT HE BELIEVES WAS A BADLY FLAWED PRIVATIZATION OF STATE ASSETS. // BRZEZINSKI ACT // BECAUSE WE HAVE ENCOURAGED THE PELL MELL PRIVATIZATION PROCESS, WHICH HAS PRODUCED REALLY MONUMENTAL THEFT. PROBABLY THE BIGGEST THEFT IN INTERNATIONAL FINANCE. AND WE HAVE BEEN BEHIND IT. THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE ARE THE VICTIMS. A FEW OLIGARCHS IN RUSSIA ARE THE BENEFICIARIES. AND THESE OLIGARCHS ARE NOW CREATING A COALITION WITH THE COMMUNISTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR PROFITS AND THEIR PRIVILEGED POSITIONS ARE SUSTAINED. // END ACT // ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI, THE TOP U-S SECURITY OFFICIAL UNDER FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER. ANOTHER RUSSIAN EXPERT, ANDERS ASLUND OF THE CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT, SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THE WEST CAN DO TO HELP THE RUSSIAN REFORMERS. HE CALLS THE FINANCIAL CRISIS A TOTAL MELTDOWN. MR. ASLUND SAYS RUSSIAN INFLATION WILL QUICKLY JUMP TO 100 PERCENT (ANNUALLY) AND THAT GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT WILL DECLINE BY TEN PERCENT AS THE RUBLE DECLINES OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. (SIGNED) NEB/BDW/PT 27-Aug-98 5:52 PM EDT (2152 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .