CNN - Yeltsin issues election statement

Yeltsin issues election statement

June 17, 1996
Web posted at: 9:50 a.m EDT (1350 GMT)

MOSCOW (CNN) -- The following is the message Russian President Boris Yeltsin issued to the Russian people:

Dear Russian citizens, compatriots:

The first tour of presidential elections is finished. Soon the Central Electoral Commission will announce the official results, but we already have the most important result: Free, direct, honest elections.

We heard so many prophecies that these elections would be canceled, but that didn't happen.

Being the head of the state, I thank those of you who came to the polling stations -- those who confirmed their willingness to move onwards towards the goal chosen by Russia five years ago -- towards a stable, secure, adequate life for all citizens of the Russian Federation.

Thank you for your resoluteness, for your support.

But it is not as simple as it might look. During the first tour, the president was not elected. That is why we will have to vote a second time during the second tour.

Why did that happen? Several candidates participated in the elections. Among them were popular politicians, esteemed men: Alexander Lebed, Grigory Yavlinsky, Svyatoslav Fyodorov.

Most of you made the right choice by voting for a new life, but you have divided your support between several candidates. That is why there wasn't a winner during the first tour. Thus, we shouldn't relax in hope that everything will sort itself out. It won't. After the first tour, the situation changed.

The choice is clear now -- either it is back into revolutions and shocks or onward to stability and well-being. Now is the time when we must be as one, despite any differences. We belong to the same country -- Russia. We often debate the course to take for future development, and the same disputes take place during the elections. But in the end, we must find harmony.

We love Russia, that means we must work together. Together we will win.

Pivotal Elections: Russia

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Yeltsin issues election statement

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