Washington, 13 November 1996 (RFE/RL) - Two private American policy institutes have invited Alexander Lebed, President Boris Yeltsin's former National Security Council Secretary, to visit the United States next week.
But one of the sponsors, the Washington-based Nixon Center for Peace and Freedom, told our correspondent that it is not yet certain Lebed will accept the invitation.
The other sponsor is the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, a prestigious foreign policy forum. Lebed would make a speech before the Council next Monday.
Organizers said he would also be expected to travel to Washington and meet U.S. officials.
A U.S. State Department spokeswoman says a senior State Department official would have talks with Lebed if requested. But she says no request has been received at the State Department from Lebed or his American sponsors.
Lebed became Yeltsin's National Security Council Secretary after winning third place in the first round of Russia's presidential election in June. Yeltsin fired him last month, saying Lebed took a series of actions without presidential approval.