THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary

________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                      June 18, 1996


				   
		      STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
				   
		       Russian Election Results
				   

     I spoke with President Yeltsin this morning and conveyed through
him to the Russian people my warm congratulations on the election,
which is a success for Russia as a whole.

     On Sunday, more than 70 million Russian citizens -- representing
about 70% of the eligible voters -- voted in the first round of the
presidential election that will determine who will lead the Russian
Federation for the next four years.  They were able to choose among
ten candidates representing a wide range of political views in a
contested election.  Russian and international observers have reported
nothing thus far to indicate any significant irregularities in the
voting process.

     This is an important milestone in Russia's history as a democracy
and a welcome sign of just how far that country has come in a few
short years. The run-off round will allow the Russian people to
complete the process of electing their president.

     A critical element of our post-Cold War relationship with Russia
is its continuing development as a democracy.  The United States will
remain steady in its policy of active engagement with Russia to
support political and economic reform and Russia's integration with
the West.

     
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