YELTSIN PROMISES IMPROVEMENT.

Publication: Monitor Volume: 2 Issue: 136

On July 10, President Boris Yeltsin made what was billed as his first official address to the nation since winning reelection. Yeltsin, who has not been seen in public since June 26, appeared on television looking better than he has for some time. He promised to continue his economic reforms but said he had made "mistakes" and that economic policy would in future be aimed at improving the living standards of "every Russian family." He also promised to step up the campaign against corruption and other types of crime. He confirmed that Viktor Chernomyrdin was his choice for prime minister and said he had instructed Chernomyrdin to put together a new government including "fresh faces." People from all parties were welcome to join the team, Yeltsin said, as long as they were "competent professionals" and were prepared to lay aside their party allegiances. (ORT, RTR, July 10)

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