DATE=9/12/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON / PUTIN (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-253758
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=AUCKLAND
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:  President Clinton -- in a meeting with 
Russia's new prime minister, Vladimir Putin -- urged 
Moscow to forcefully combat the problem of corruption.  
Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from Auckland, New 
Zealand, where the meeting took place on the sidelines 
of a regional trade summit.

Text:  Just days after Mr. Clinton used a phone call 
with Russian President Boris Yeltsin to appeal for 
action against growing corruption in Russia, he 
underscored his message to Prime Minister Putin.

National Security Advisor Sandy Berger detailed the 
meeting:

        // BERGER ACTUALITY //

The president said he wants to see this problem dealt 
with, he hopes Russia will deal with this, because it 
could eat the heart out of Russian society, if the 
problem of corruption is not dealt with.

        // END ACTUALITY //

U-S and British investigators are probing whether 
organized crime was involved in illegally funneling 
billions of dollars out of Russia through accounts at 
the Bank of New York.  In addition, Swiss 
investigators believe they have found evidence linking 
Kremlin officials to a bribery scandal involving a 
Swiss firm.

According to Mr. Berger, Mr. Putin admitted there is a 
corruption problem in Russia -- as there is in other 
countries -- and he suggested some of it may be 
politically motivated.  Mr. Putin says the United 
States and Russia should work together toward solving 
the problem.

Russia is sending a team of law enforcement officials 
to the United States, soon, to meet with members of 
the Federal Bureau of Investigation to discuss anti-
corruption efforts.


On other matters, Mr. Clinton and Mr. Putin discussed 
arms control and nuclear nonproliferation.

The president reiterated that Washington wants to 
amend the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty to allow 
for deployment of a system to defend against missile 
attacks by what he calls `rogue states,' such as Iran 
and North Korea.

Although Russia opposes the move, it has agreed to 
discuss the issue.   Mr. Putin called for the talks to 
continue.

The prime minister also said Russia continues to press 
The Duma to ratify the Start Two Treaty, which would 
make further cuts in each country's nuclear stockpile.  
But he indicated ratification would not happen soon.

The Duma -- dominated by former communists -- has 
stalled ratification of Start Two, believing it gives 
the United States an unfair advantage.  However, U-S 
and Russian negotiators have begun talks on a Start 
Three treaty that would make additional cuts in both 
sides nuclear arsenals.

On the issue of non-proliferation, Mr. Clinton called 
on Russia to tighten export controls to prevent the 
transfers of nuclear technology to Iran.  Mr. Putin 
acknowledges there were problems with his country's 
export controls. He says Moscow wants to continue 
working with Washington so it could gain control of 
the matter.  (signed)



Neb/dat / wd






  



12-Sep-1999 05:15 AM LOC (12-Sep-1999 0915 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.