February 19, 1996
Web posted at: 9:30 p.m. EST
From Correspondent Eileen O'Connor
MOSCOW (CNN) -- For Russian President Boris Yeltsin, the campaign picture worth a thousand votes is Yeltsin side by side with one of his biggest supporters -- German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
As the two leaders began three days of talks in Moscow Monday, the Kremlin stressed past cooperation. Yeltsin, wanting to look like the guarantor of lucrative partnerships, says that reforms will continue with him as president.
"I strongly reassure in all spheres the reforms will continue -- not a step, half step or one inch back," he said.
Yeltsin implies a threat -- that a Communist victory in this June's presidential election may mean isolation from the West -- and from Western aid and investment.
For his part, Kohl insists that he isn't taking sides in the coming election.
"It isn't my job to comment on Russian elections," Kohl said. "But as chancellor I welcome the link Boris Yeltsin has just drawn between his wish for a second term in office and the reform policies."
That may be music to Yeltsin's ears -- while his own promise to look at ways to resolve the war in Chechnya is clearly welcome in the West.
With yet another near-hostage crisis this weekend in Chechnya, and renewed fighting that left a number of Russian soldiers dead, Yeltsin has no hopes of getting the votes he needs unless he can end the war soon.
Kohl is expected to push for a quick end to the war during this week's talks -- and to tackle the issue of NATO's eastern expansion.
On that subject, Yeltsin's government continued to play to the strong nationalist sentiment in the country. He reiterated that NATO expansion is still out of the question - - rhetoric the West hopes will soften after the votes have been counted.
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