Communists Rebuff Yeltsin Deal
Russia's politicians spent the whole weekend coming up with a new plan to get the country out of its economic mess, CBS News Correspondent Richard Threlkeld reports. They thought they had a deal.
It would have transferred power from the president to the parliament, and insured that by Monday, President Yeltsin's choice, Victor Chernomyrdin, would be the new prime minister.
But Sunday night, the Communists -- who dominate the parliament -- backed out of the deal. Their leader, Gennady Zyuganov, said on Russian TV that they would vote against Chernomyrdin.
Zyuganov said the proposed pact was rejected by a meeting of his party leadership because there was no firm guarantee Yeltsin would abide by its provisions. He did not rule out further talks.
"So far, the document is not guaranteeing anybody anything," he said.
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In particular, the president would have retained control of the security forces with the right to fill three key posts -- the defense, foreign and interior ministries. In exchange, Yeltsin would have agreed to Duma approval of most Cabinet appointments for the first time, according to lawmakers and media reports.
The Communists' surprise rejection of the deal could be a prelude to more bargaining as the opposition seeks further concessions. Russia may face weeks of political uncertainty if the opposition blocks Chernomyrdin's confirmation and Yeltsin refuses to withdraw it.
Not a great scenario for a summit visit by the President of the United States. Any advice for Bill Clinton?
"Briefly, I would say, don't come," said Viktor Kremenyuk, an expert on U.S.-Russian relations.
But Mr. Clinton is coming, and Kremenyuk concedes that the visit might do some good, "because it will be an indirect hint to Yeltsin that, 'You should leave. Your time has passed.'"
President Clinton is not bringing Yeltsin any money, or anything more than moral support, and a plea to put Russia's economic house in order, something that now seems beyond Yeltsin or anyone in the Russian government.
So the two presidents will do some visiting, sign a few documents and have some nice meals together.
According to Moscow's former ambassador to Washington, Vladimir Lukin, that's about all they will do. He admits that the summit will be little more than a photo opportunity.
"It's very good spent time," Lukin said. "But I don't know how useful it will be for both countries."
It sems unlikely the new prime minister will be confirmed by the time Mr. Clinton arrives, so he'll be coming to a country with a president who is technically without a government.
But, Bill Clinton is friends with Boris Yeltsin, and what are friends for?