…TOUCHES ON FOREIGN POLICY.

Yeltsin touched briefly on foreign policy at the end of today’s speech. He called for a diplomatic solution in Iraq and stressed that Russia remains firmly opposed to the use of force to resolve the crisis. Asked by nationalist parliamentarian Vladimir Zhirinovsky to use his moral authority to prevent the outbreak of war with Iraq, the president responded that no one was doing more than he, Yeltsin, to ensure a peaceful outcome to the crisis. In general, the BBC reported, Yeltsin spoke this morning in a strong voice and got an unenthusiastic but not hostile reception from parliament. (BBC, February 17)

Yeltsin Rules Out Cabinet Reshuffle — for Now.