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In responding to this historic opportunity, the United 

 States must extend a hand of partnership to President Yeltsin 

 and the Russian people,, a partnership based on democratic and 

 free market values. While the President is still considering 

 the specific initiatives he will anounce at the Summit, 

 Secretary Christopher reaffirmed our clear intent to increase 

 and accelerate our support for Russia's democracy and its 

 efforts to build a market economy. He also set out guideposts 

 for our assistance program: (1) that it be better targetted 

 and coordinated; (2) that it focus on areas and constituencies 

 in Russia that can have the greatest impact on reform's 

 long-term success; (3) that it catalyze our private sectors to 

 take a leading role in Russia's transformation through trade, 

 investment, and training; and (4) that our help be felt at the 

 grass roots level. 



Our assistance program in the NIS has been grounded in the 

 principles of the FREEDOM Support Act, which clearly directed 

 that U.S. assistance recognize and bolster the economic and 

 democratic reforms in all of the republics of the former Soviet 

 Union. As each republic in the NIS makes progress toward 

 building free market economies and democratic institutions, we 

 are able to implement a range of technical assistance 

 activities, including programs in the agricultural sector. 



