Russian President Boris Yeltsin carried to Canada much the same message he delivered in Washington: Russia needs support and money to keep capitalist reform on track.
After running a combine through the wheatfields of Kansas on Thursday, Yeltsin arrived in Ottawa, where he was greeted by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Gov. General Ray Hnatyshyn and several members of Canada's Progressive Conservative government.Yeltsin looked fresh and upbeat despite a grueling swing through the United States, where he signed a deal to slash nuclear arsenals, delivered an eloquent plea to Congress to endorse a $24 billion Western aid package and traveled to Wichita, Kan., for a day.
Strong backing from the United States and Canada would strengthen Yeltsin's hand when he travels next month to Munich, Germany, to meet with leaders of the seven richest democracies to tie down the Western credits and aid.
On arriving in Ottawa, the Russian president had warm words for his Canadian hosts, saying they were "special because you are sincere and reliable partners."
But, echoing his message to his American business and government leaders, Yeltsin told his hosts that "Canadian business, industry and services should have more courage and begin practical exploration of the Russian market."
Yeltsin and his wife dined Thursday night with Mulroney and his wife, plus interpreters, spokesmen said.
Friday he met again with Mulroney, addressed a joint session of Parliament before lunching at the National Gallery of art.
Later, he was to visit a Bell research laboratory and meet with leaders of the two main opposition political parties before heading back to Moscow.
In Kansas, Yeltsin proved himself an outstanding showman.
He used a mixture of charm, down-to-earth humor and even slapstick, as when he insisted the chairman of Hormel Co. take his suit jacket as a gift in exchange for a leather jacket.
Yeltsin stuck pretty much to official events in Washington. But in Wichita, he plunged into a crowd, signed autographs, shook hands and picked up a toddler.
And in what is sure to be an enduring image of his trip, Yeltsin got behind the wheel of a combine and helped cut wheat on a 2,000-acre farm, gesturing broadly for people to get out of his path.