Secretary of State Warren M. Christopher, asserting that the United States has a "deep self-interest" in the crisis unfolding in Russia, said Monday the Russian people deserve "not a hand of pity but a hand of partnership."
"We must lead a long-term strategy on engagement for democracy," Christopher said in remarks prepared for delivery in a speech here. A text was made available by the State Department in Washington.Christopher spoke three days after Russian President Boris Yelt-sin announced he was assuming special powers in order to lay the groundwork for a referendum on a new constitution and a vote of confidence in his leadership.
"We welcome President Yelt-sin's assurance that civil liberties, including freedom of speech and the press, will be respected," Chris-to-pher said.
"We also welcome his firm rejection of imperial and Cold War policies."
Earlier Monday, the White House said it would consider moving President Clinton's summit with Yeltsin to Moscow if the embattled Russian leader requests a change.
However, White House press secretary Dee Dee Myers said Yeltsin has not asked for a change, and plans are moving forward to hold the meeting in the western Canadian city of Vancouver on April 3 and 4.
Clinton, asked in Little Rock, Ark., Monday morning if he would consider moving the summit to Moscow, said there were "no plans to change the site at this time."