WASHINGTON, Aug 14 (Reuters) - A 40-minute conversation
between President Bill Clinton and Russian President Boris
Yeltsin on Friday was not "about money" although the two agreed
to work together to bolster the Russian economy, the White
House said.
"This was not a phone call about money," White House
spokesman Mike McCurry told reporters. "It was a phone call
about doing the things necessary to right an economy that has
been struggling to move forward."
McCurry's comment, as well as statements by another U.S.
official about the conversation earlier on Friday, appeared to
suggest Clinton and Yeltsin had not discussed the possibility
of further international assistance for Russia.
The White House spokesman said Russia must fully implement
its economic program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
which agreed to provide $11.2 billion in loans as part of a
broader, $22.6 billion aid package agreed last month.
McCurry said that the two had had some discussion about the
ruble, but declined to offer details.
Clinton emerged from the conversation convinced that
Yeltsin understands the importance of restoring economic
stability in his country, McCurry added.
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