Sunday, September 13, 1998 Published at 01:39 GMT 02:39 UK
Yeltsin assures Clinton reforms continue
President Yeltsin: Primakov will stick with reforms
President, Boris Yeltsin, has assured United States President Bill Clinton that his new government will continue with Russia's economic reforms. He told Mr Clinton that he saw no alternative to a market economy.
"The Russian President underlined the stability of foreign policy, including the mutually beneficial and equal partnership with the US, consistency in reforms and the lack of any alternative to market-oriented policies," a Kremlin statement said.
Mr Primakov - former foreign minister and a widely respected career diplomat - was voted in on Friday after Yeltsin backed down in a stand-off with the lower house of parliament, the Duma.
In his first day in office, Mr Primakov said Russia would repay all its debts and would not allow itself to be declared bankrupt.
He was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying on Saturday: "Russia is not refusing to carry out its obligations. We shall pay all of our debts."
So far, Mr Primakov has indicated that his policies will be a combination of greater economic reform and an increased role for the state in regulating the market.
As a sign of a possible change of direction on the economy, the Duma confirmed Viktor Gerashchenko as central bank chairman, reinstalling the man who once headed the Soviet Union's central bank.
Meanwhile, President Yeltsin has dismissed his spokesman, Sergei Yastrzhembsky.
In an interview with the Interfax news agency, Mr Yastrzhembsky, 44, said he doubted he would remain in government service.
"If one, two or more officials must pay the price of their dismissals for the civilian peace and accord in Russian society, it is not too big a price," he said.
Mr Yastrzhembsky has been widely credited with giving a smooth, professional face to the Kremlin press service
Observers say he might have been regarded as too much of a reformer by the new government.
Old Guard appointments
Mr Maslyukov formerly headed the Soviet state planning agency.
Igor Ivanov has been named as foreign minister, promoted from the number two job at the ministry.
BBC correspondents in Moscow say that unlike his predecessors, Mr Primakov and his government will have general support within the Duma.