THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Vice President
STATEMENT BY THE VICE PRESIDENT ON RUSSIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Sunday's presidential election was an important milestone for Russia. I join President Clinton in congratulating President-elect Vladimir Putin on his victory. And I especially congratulate the Russian people, for once again demonstrating their commitment to hard-won democratic freedoms by turning out to vote in such impressive numbers.
The Russian people have put their trust in President-elect Putin to lead them to a more prosperous and stable future. I hope that the President-elect will seize this opportunity to strengthen the foundations of Russia's democracy, economic recovery, and international integration. I also urge Mr. Putin to work toward a lasting political solution in Chechnya. The United States remains committed to supporting Russian efforts to achieve those goals.
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