UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2006-01499 Doc No 017533689 Date 0611512016 f-f F-jiuh THE WHITE HOUSE gijI WASHINGTON RELEASE IN FULL AUTHORITY Marvin Russell Senior Reviewer MEMORANDUM OF TELEPHONE CONVERSATION SUBJECT Telcon with President Boris Yeltsin of Russia on January 23 1993 U PARTICIPANTS The President President Boris Yeltsin Interpreter Dmitri Zarechnak Notetaker Nicholas Burns NSC staff DATE TIME January 23 1993 10 45 - 11 17am AND PLACE Oval Office Ihe_2resid nt Mr President this is President Clinton Good morning Mr President U Now that I have become President I want to reemphasize with you my commitment that Russia be a top priority for U S foreign policy during my Administration Thank you very much for your congratulatory message to me I am determined that together we create the closest possible U S -Russia partnership This is a complex time in Europe and in Asia and we will need to work together effectively to use the power of our two countries for the good And I want our governments to get off to a fast start I am looking forward to an early meeting between us Secretary of State Christopher will contact Foreign Minister Kozyrev to schedule an early meeting between them and to begin discussions about our meeting I know how vitally important their relationship will be to us both S I am also determined to find the best possible person as my Ambassador to Moscow At the present time I want you to know that we are determined to do whatever we can to help Russiats democratic reforms to succeed We will try to make our economic aid as beneficial as possible I have appointed a very close friend and expert on Russia Strobe Talbott to oversee all of- our assistance programs in Russia and in Eastern Europe His appointment will ensure that I can maintain a high level of personal involvement on this important issue This will be good for both you and me S I will also do my best to get as soon as possible a good person in Moscow as Ambassador who has my complete confidence and attention C Declassify on OADR - shim UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2006-01499 Doc No 017533689 Date 06 5 2016 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No Doc N3 017533689 Date 0611512016 President Yeltsin Mr President I would like to thank you and tell you that I personally know Bob Strauss and believe that these good personal contacts did much for the development of relations between our two states I would be very thankful if you could in a preliminary way give me the name of your candidate to be Ambassador to Russia 3 The President Thank you Let me mention a couple of specific issues I want to reiterate my support for a rescheduling of Russia's debt in the Paris Club I also want to boost American investment and trade I would also like to work closely with you to resolve differences on Ukraine's ratification of START I and the NPT so that we can make progress on START II S I also want to make sure that we consult closely on important foreign policy issues I know that the situation in Bosnia has presented you with some difficulties at home The U S will continue to work closely with you on this issue I will appreciate your continued-support On Iraq we believe strongly that Saddam must comply with the UN Security Council resolutions and measures the coalition has established to enforce and monitor them including the No Fly Zones I want to assure you that we will stay in close touch and I have instructed Secretary of State Christopher to speak to Foreign Minister Kozyrev as soon as possible about this and other issues of foreign policy I want them to meet quickly and to set an agenda and a particular time to get together I am anxious to see you and to get going And I want our relations to be the same as in the past S President Yeltsin Mr President I want to thank you very much for your nice and good words and your constructive proposals I thank you Mr President for these proposals of course I want us to cooperate on Yugoslavia but hope the cooperation will be closer to your softer line stressing not only confrontation with military forces but also a political settlement through the UN Security Council and the UN to find a mutually acceptable solution to the problem S Now about our meeting I believe that the entire world is awaiting this meeting because the new U S President would probably make some corrections in policy while supporting the general line of our policy and with me personally Our Foreign Minister Kozyrev has got instructions personally from me to get in touch with Secretary Christopher to begin the organization of a working meeting in a third neutral country I believe this is the sentiment of all the world for the U S and Russia it is important that we meet very soon to elaborate the common positions in our relations I would like to believe that this kind of meeting could take place no later than February As for the place I leave the initiative to you and would accept your proposal 3 The President I think that's a pretty good idea Let me tell -you -- I have to give a State of the Union address in early February to outline all of the economic issues here in the U S with the Congress As soon as that is out of the way we can Wins I UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2006-01499 Doc No- 017533689 Date UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No mange-g1 199 Doc No C17533689 Date 0611512016 proceed to a meeting with you Let me talk to Secretary Christopher and the schedulers and we will be in touch I appreciate your letting me choose the site I'll try to pick something convenient for you we might have to do it on a weekend so as not to conflict with the schedule of the Congress I will be in touch soon I am eager to do it 5 President Yeltsin I thank you Mr President This meeting should have an informal character The most important thing is to meet I agree with your support for a meeting between us personally which will not conflict with the schedule of the U S Congress or the Parliament of the Russian Federation I believe we could make it at the end of February after the 20th I also believe that we should meet in a country of your choice It will be good for all of us -- the U S and Russia I had good relations with Bush Now I need to develop relations with President Clinton Everyone in the world wants this The first meeting with you was very good I am confident our relations will improve in the future We just need to set a date and place S The President I agree and we will be back in touch soon Thank you very much U Eresigegt Yeltsin I agree with you Mr President and am grateful and we will be in contact Congratulations on your inaugUration You are the President of the U S from the Democratic party I believe you will play a great role in the life of the U S which will benefit America's national self- awareness as well as its foreign policy I stand ready to cooperate in the fUture I am anxious to meet with you and to get to know you as Bill U The President ' Good Thank you very much Good-bye U President Yeltsin Thank you very much and good-bye U -- End of Conversation -- - - '5 3L UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2006-01499 Doc No 017533689 Date 06l15l2016 This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu