--------------642FFDBF274AD2D905BC9C1D Communist Boss Slams Reforms, West MOSCOW -- (Reuters) Russian Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov (pictured) demanded on Wednesday that acting Prime Minister Victor Chernomyrdin, who is forming a new Russian Cabinet, abandon the tough monetary course which he said was dictated by the West. "We will only support a policy and a leadership that would clearly and straightforwardly reject the so-called monetarist reforms and agree to take a different course," Zyuganov, whose party is dominant in parliament, told a news conference. "(Russian President Boris) Yeltsin, Chernomyrdin and their governments which, being dictated by the West, guided a policy deadly for Russia, share the main responsibility for the tragedy which occurred to Russia," Zyuganov said. Russia, whose economy suffered a serious blow from the world financial crisis earlier this year, is now trying to cope with an acute political and economic crisis of its own which has already paralyzed most of its financial markets. Earlier this week Yeltsin sacked Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko and his entire government and put loyal ally Chernomyrdin back at the helm. Yeltsin had fired Chernomyrdin from the same job in March. The Duma (lower house of parliament) where Zyuganov sits is due to consider Chernomyrdin's nomination for premier at a session tentatively scheduled for next week. Communist sources told Reuters Zyuganov wanted Chernomyrdin publicly to denounce the tough monetary policy and multi-billion-dollar reform package agreed with the International Monetary Fund as a condition for Duma confirmation. Zyuganov said he saw no reason to negotiate with Chernomyrdin unless he committed himself to a change of course. The Communists want greater focus on reviving industrial and agricultural production, more social spending, support for science, culture and healthcare and a strengthening of Russia's defense potential. Zyuganov also repeated last week's Duma appeal to Yeltsin, recommending that he resign voluntarily over what Zyuganov called a "collapse of the economy and banking sphere." "A course aimed at revitalization of the country can only take place if the present head of state steps down. That is the root of everything," he said, appealing to Yeltsin's "elementary sense of responsibility and political will." "Yeltsin is not taking part in the life of the country. He is not interested, he is only interested in saving his clan." Communist Duma speaker Gennady Seleznyov also said it was time for Yeltsin to quit as his "credit of trust has expired." Seleznyov, quoted by Itar-Tass news agency, said a bid to impeach Yeltsin, which has been sitting in the Duma for months, was now more likely to win the necessary two-thirds support in the 450-seat chamber. At the end of his speech Zyuganov called for a massive nationwide protest under the slogans: "Sack Yeltsin!", "For an immediate change in course!" and "Up with the government of national trust!". Trade unions and opposition parties have scheduled a day of action for Oct. 9. -- Gregory Schwartz Dept. of Political Science York University 4700 Keele St. Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3 Canada Tel: (416) 736-5265 Fax: (416) 736-5686 Web: http://www.yorku.ca/dept/polisci --------------642FFDBF274AD2D905BC9C1D <HTML> <FONT SIZE=+2>Communist Boss Slams Reforms, West</FONT> <P> MOSCOW -- (Reuters) Russian Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov (pictured) demanded on Wednesday that acting Prime Minister Victor Chernomyrdin, who is forming a new Russian Cabinet, abandon the tough monetary course which he said was dictated by the West. <P>"We will only support a policy and a leadership that would clearly and straightforwardly reject the so-called monetarist reforms and agree to take a different course," Zyuganov, whose party is dominant in parliament, told a news conference. <P>"(Russian President Boris) Yeltsin, Chernomyrdin and their governments which, being dictated by the West, guided a policy deadly for Russia, share the main responsibility for the tragedy which occurred to Russia," Zyuganov said. <P>Russia, whose economy suffered a serious blow from the world financial crisis earlier this year, is now trying to cope with an acute political and economic crisis of its own which has already paralyzed most of its financial markets. <P>Earlier this week Yeltsin sacked Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko and his entire government and put loyal ally Chernomyrdin back at the helm. Yeltsin had fired Chernomyrdin from the same job in March. <P>The Duma (lower house of parliament) where Zyuganov sits is due to consider Chernomyrdin's nomination for premier at a session tentatively scheduled for next week. <P>Communist sources told Reuters Zyuganov wanted Chernomyrdin publicly to denounce the tough monetary policy and multi-billion-dollar reform package agreed with the International Monetary Fund as a condition for Duma confirmation. <P>Zyuganov said he saw no reason to negotiate with Chernomyrdin unless he committed himself to a change of course. <P>The Communists want greater focus on reviving industrial and agricultural production, more social spending, support for science, culture and healthcare and a strengthening of Russia's defense potential. <P>Zyuganov also repeated last week's Duma appeal to Yeltsin, recommending that he resign voluntarily over what Zyuganov called a "collapse of the economy and banking sphere." <P>"A course aimed at revitalization of the country can only take place if the present head of state steps down. That is the root of everything," he said, appealing to Yeltsin's "elementary sense of responsibility and political will." <P>"Yeltsin is not taking part in the life of the country. He is not interested, he is only interested in saving his clan." <P>Communist Duma speaker Gennady Seleznyov also said it was time for Yeltsin to quit as his "credit of trust has expired." <P>Seleznyov, quoted by Itar-Tass news agency, said a bid to impeach Yeltsin, which has been sitting in the Duma for months, was now more likely to win the necessary two-thirds support in the 450-seat chamber. <P>At the end of his speech Zyuganov called for a massive nationwide protest under the slogans: "Sack Yeltsin!", "For an immediate change in course!" and "Up with the government of national trust!". <P>Trade unions and opposition parties have scheduled a day of action for Oct. 9. <P>-- <BR>Gregory Schwartz <BR>Dept. of Political Science <BR>York University <BR>4700 Keele St. <BR>Toronto, Ontario <BR>M3J 1P3 <BR>Canada <P>Tel: (416) 736-5265 <BR>Fax: (416) 736-5686 <BR>Web: <A HREF="http://www.yorku.ca/dept/polisci">http://www.yorku.ca/dept/polisci</A> <BR> </HTML> --------------642FFDBF274AD2D905BC9C1D--
