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Yeltsin Keeps Premier, Stresses New Reform Lines


Moscow, July 10 (RFE/RL) -- Russian President Boris Yeltsin said today that he will keep Viktor Chernomyrdin as prime minister of his government.

Yeltsin, speaking in pre-recorded remarks shown on Russian public television, said he wants a strong government, and that it should be headed by Chernomyrdin.

Yeltsin also said that economic reforms will continue in Russia, but that his policies will make "serious adjustments" to boost industrial production and raise living standards.

Yeltsin said he wants to include "professional people" with new ideas in his government, but he gave no names. He said the government could include members of different parties as long as the members "forget their partisan positions."

Yeltsin also hailed what he called the "historic choice" of Russian voters in electing him last week to lead the nation into the next millenium.

Correspondents said Yeltsin, who has not been seen in public since June 26, looked stiff but spoke clearly during his remarks. The remarks are extracts from a pre-recorded address scheduled to broadcast in full this evening.
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