BORIS YELTSIN ADDRESSES NATION OVER THE RADIO

MOSCOW, /FROM RIA-NOVOSTI CORRESPONDENT/ -- President Boris Yeltsin of the Russian Federation addressed his fellow citizens over a radio hook-up today.

Acting on our subscribers' request, we publish the full text of Yeltsin's radio message below:

My Fellow Russians,

The following two problems cause heated debates in our society, worrying the people of Russia and calling for an explanation.

I'm talking about the bill "On Freedom Of Conscience And Religious Associations" that has been approved by the State Duma.

Acting in line with my constitutional prerogatives, I've declined to sign this bill.

True, this was a hard decision to make because that bill is supported by the majority of State Duma deputies, the Russian Orthodox Church and others.

I understand that Russia needs such a law badly. This law is called on to defend our people's moral and spiritual health, to erect reliable barriers in the way of radical sects that have already dealt enough harm, crippling the spiritual and physical health of many our citizens, young people, first and foremost.

However, I can't sign the bill's version that was okayed by the State Duma.

Some of the document's provisions serve to infringe upon constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens and private individuals. The bill discriminates against various religions, running counter to Russia's international commitments. This has been discussed by members of parliament, public activists and foreigners alike.

As Russia's President, I am duty-bound to ensure that all federal bills don't contradict the Constitution and the Russian Federation's international treaties. Besides, I must see to it that the legitimate rights of citizens and private individuals be defended completely.

A democratic state cannot infringe on minorities interests (no matter what seemingly noble interests might dictate such a move).

This bill has to be amended considerably.

I have submitted my proposals to the State Duma. I'm calling on the deputies to display their understanding of the current situation and to support my position.

And now I'd like to dwell on the military reform and the destiny of the Russian Armed Forces.

Some serious decisions have been made over the last few. Four decrees have been signed. One can now safely say that the military reform has taken off the ground.

However, some politicians and generals vehemently oppose these decrees.

As I signed them, I was well aware of the fact that the reorganization of the entire Russian military establishment, which is seen as an extremely serious and formidable task, will inevitably cause a public debate. Political passions can't but flare around the military reform.

Some people say that such a reform should be postponed for a while. In their opinion, the decision to launch such reforms today would ultimately destroy the Russian Armed Forces.

Such people say that Russia should first obtain a prosperous economy and more money. As a result, it will become possible to begin the military reform. Still they think that nothing should be done at this stage.

I understand only too well that the majority of such critics are seriously concerned over the destiny of the Russian Armed Forces. They do care about their problems, affairs and concerns.

On the other hand, all those advocating a fast-paced military reform also worry about the future of our Armed Forces.

Surely enough, the military reform does require a more favorable financial environment. Still we can't wait any longer.

It pains to see all those hungry soldiers and officers, who don't receive their pay grades on time. And it pains me to see their families, who don't get apartments for many years in a row.

Besides, it pains me to see that the military service's prestige continues to decline steadily.

That's why I've decided to personally control the situation inside our Armed Forces.

We are going to rectify the financial situation, first and foremost. The Government has been ordered to eliminate all pay-grade and wage arrears by September 1. Besides, the Cabinet must repay all social debts before the year is out.

And I'll do everything possible in order to meet that deadline.

I'd like to repeat once again that we want this country to acquire compact and effective Armed Forces as a result of the current military reform. Such Armed Forces would be expected to reliably guarantee state security, conforming to Russia's economic potential all the same.

And now I'd like to explain the gist of my decrees to all servicemen -- soldiers, sailors, generals and admirals alike.

The Decree "On First-Hand Measures To Overhaul the Russian Federation's Armed Forces And On Streamlining Their Organization" seems to be the most important document here.

Plans are in place to merge the ICBM Force, the Military-Space Force and the Air-Defense Force's ABM-And-Space Defense Force into an entirely new armed service, e.g. the Strategic Missile Force.

Some Air-Force branches shall also merge.

Such an approach will make it possible to ensure more effective performance and to rule out all parallelism. This decision will also produce an impressive economic effect, with the nation saving hundreds of billions of roubles.

The high command of the nation's Land Forces shall be converted into the Main Land-Force Department by January 1, 1999. Consequently, troop-level control will be improved, with the Armed Forces receiving more crack divisions than before.

All district-level troop control shall now abide by the one-man-rule concept. Only one top commander alone shall assume all responsibility at this stage.

The decree also curbs the number of officers serving with the Defense Ministry's central administration. From now on, that administration can't employ more than one percent of all Russian servicemen.

The decree also touches upon yet another painful issue, e.g. the reduction of the nation's Armed Forces, which are to be pruned by 500,000 soldiers over the 1997-1998 period. In other words, the Armed Forces shall retain 1,200,000 servicemen. The social guarantees of demobbed servicemen are not going to be violated in any way.

As you know, the Government will be sending the best young specialists to other countries of the world where they shall undergo advanced-training courses, studying business and management. Part of all vacancies shall be reserved for demobbed officers, who constitute our priceless asset and who are renowned for their professionalism, experience and knowledge of everyday life.

The decree suggests a set of measures for resolving the housing issue, which also ranks among the most pressing problems. Right now, 97,000 families don't have any homes or apartments whatsoever.

A special bank account is now being created; it will be used to accumulate monies being derived in the course of specific privatization programs involving our Armed Forces' real estate. The account's monies shall subsequently be used to finance the construction and purchase of various apartments for demobbed servicemen alone.

On Wednesday, I've signed yet another decree, which allows the Armed Forces to keep 87 percent of all monies being derived through army-surplus sales and to use them for meeting their urgent requirements. In other words, the Armed Forces are going to receive additional "army-surplus" earnings, rather than federal-budget appropriations.

I'm sure that the Defense Ministry will team up with regional governors and republican leaders, settling this issue in line with shareholding schemes. And I'm going to monitor all damage-control operations.

Another decree has also been signed. According to its provisions, the Federal Road-Building Administration, which acts as a state-run agency under the Defense Ministry's auspices, has been converted into the Federal Road-Building Administration under the Russian Federal Road Service. The military shall no longer have to build any roads. Consequently, the Defense Ministry has now been freed from some functions that are alien to it.

Apart from that, the decree has abolished the military retail-trade network. All military-trade agencies shall now be privatized; and the men in uniform shall no longer deal with trade issues.

Such are the first steps of our military reform that are aimed at strengthening the Armed Forces' combat readiness and combat efficiency, at reviving regular troop-level training programs and raising the social status of servicemen.

The National Defense Council's commissions are now conducting a detailed study of all issues pertaining to the reorganization of the Russian Armed Forces and various military units affiliated with other "military" departments. These commissions are chaired by Victor Chernomyrdin and Anatoli Chubais, who regularly report on their work to me.

I've met with Defense Minister Igor Sergeev on Monday, learning about the fulfilment of my decrees.

One thing should not be doubted. The military reform has, indeed, got underway. Each of its steps is being calculated, substantiated, prepared and supported. There will be no stop-overs. Most importantly, we must not slacken our pace today.

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Johnson's Russia List

#1083

25 July 1997

djohnson@cdi.org