Russian President Boris Yeltsin dismissed yesterday the government of Viktor Chernomyrdin. On the eve of the decisive day for the former Cabinet no major changes were expected in Russian political life. Observers concentrated on President Yeltsin's health in light of postponed meetings with the French and German heads of state in Moscow. And once again Yeltsin amazed the pundits.
Monday morning the entire political landscape changed when the President's dismissal of the government became known. Even the structure of the ukase was out of the ordinary. Yeltsin considered it necessary not only to announce the government's dismissal but to specifically include special points specifically dismissing First Deputy Premier Anatoly Chubais along with Deputy Premier and Internal Affairs Minister Anatoly Kulikov. Chernomyrdin was awarded a medal for "service to the Fatherland," second degree, and Yeltsin emphasized that the former Premier was being reassigned to political work in connection with the 2000 elections which will be crucial for Russia's future. At a press conference the former Premier stressed the importance of his new assignment and that he would continue to work closely with the President. In a televised address Yeltsin announced to the nation that he would be his own Prime Minister but changed his mind several hours later, naming Energy Minister Sergei Kirilenko acting head of government, and it seems probable that this figure will be submitted to the State Duma for approval and set about forming a new government, which the President's press secretary announced will have to be formed before Yeltsin leaves on a state visit to Japan in mid-April.
The Russian President's move seems to have been motivated by disagreements between him and the government on economic policy. Yeltsin had earlier given strong hints, without ever openly saying so, that his Premier would also be his hand-picked successor, and the latter's Our Home is Russia movement received active presidential support in the last elections. Now, however, Chernomyrdin refuses to say whether he will be a candidate, only that he will work to organize the election. Some observers think that by dismissing his Premier, also the powerful head of Russian energy interests, the President has de facto taken him out of the running for the succession, but, should the former now assume, say, the vacant chairmanship of Gazprom, he could well turn out to be stronger than ever.
The removal of First Deputy Premier Chubais might be seen as an attempt to clip the wings of yet another possible presidential candidate, but he might now become Board Chairman of United Energy Systems of Russia, another powerful energy monopoly, which could make the man a king-maker in his own right. Here, however, much will depend on whether Yeltsin wants him to get the post.
One of the big winners may be Deputy Boris Nemtsov, who first brought acting Prime Minister Kirilenko to Moscow. Moreover, Kirilenko is considered a political lightweight, there is no reason to expect that the State Duma would ever confirm him as Premier, and some think he may simply be a caretaker to be replaced by Nemtsov.
Yeltsin's Cabinet shakeup shows that he and his entourage are determined to continue the Yeltsin era to the last possible moment. They have not only shown who is the boss but also that they will choose only a transitional and dependent figure, as was Chernomyrdin, capable only of continuing the Yeltsin era, even without Yeltsin if need be. It is a group that has power and is determined to keep it, whatever it takes.
FIRST COMMENTS
Dismissal of the Russian Cabinet will "in no way" impact on Russo-Ukrainian relations, Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma stated in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. This was especially so that President Yeltsin had initiated the move, but, added Mr. Kuchma, "I certainly will phone him."
Ukrainian Prime Minister Valery Pustovoitenko, speaking in Zaporizhzhia, also thinks the move do no harm to bilateral relations, adding, "I only just finished speaking with the President, and we have no idea why this happened. In particular, economic relations should remain unchanged since they were agreed upon by the heads of state. "This is the main thing for us, and I don't think Russia will change its course concerning Ukraine," he added.
People's Deputy Yevhen Marchuk told Interfax-Ukraine that Yeltsin had acted like "a strong statesman in complete control of the situation." He added that as "an experienced politician" the Russian President's decision "did not increase the number of his enemies or strengthen his opposition... In this sense politicians need to study this, including those in Ukraine."
First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Anton Buteiko told The Day's correspondent Oleksa Pidlutsky that governments being dismissed are a common occurrence, but "our interest in equal cooperation with Russia remains. Maybe it also does with Russia. We will expect that the overall tendencies of our bilateral relations to develop will not change."
In Ghana US President Bill Clinton stated that he has no reason to think that the unexpected dismissal of the Russian government will have any impact on bilateral relations. "I still haven't talked with Yeltsin," he told reporters, adding he could add nothing except that the US does not interfere in the internal affairs of foreign countries, reports AP.
German experts largely felt the Russian President took this action to show decisiveness in the face of talk about his health and ability to act decisively, Viktor Tymchenko of The Day reports from Germany.
AP Photo:
Politics knows no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests







