RUSSIA: SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT MANDELA MEETS YELTSIN

(29 Apr 1999) English/Nat

South African president Nelson Mandela held formal meetings with Russian leader Boris Yeltsin in Moscow on Thursday, in a day of events that included discussions on the Balkans conflict.

Yeltsin told reporters the two presidents had agreed Russia and South Africa would work together to create what the Kremlin chief called a multi-polar world.

At a later meeting Mandela lashed out at Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic, laying all blame for the conflict on what he called Belgrade's campaign of ethnic cleansing.

It was time for Nelson Mandela to pay belated respects to Russia on Thursday.

The South African president bowed as soldiers laid a wreath at Moscow's tomb of the unknown soldier, the traditional start for foreign leaders visiting Russia.

Mandela said during the day he had always wanted to thank Russians for the support the Soviet Union gave to his A-N-C movement in the years of apartheid in South Africa.

President Boris Yeltsin greeted Mandela in the Kremlin with hugs and kisses. Yeltsin plagued by illness over the last few months, has under taken a hectic week of meetings.

The Kremlin chief seemed determined to show the sprightly Mandela he was in fine form.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"Now my health is strong, I'm very firm on my feet. Nobody can topple me, not even the communists"
SUPER CAPTION: Boris Yeltsin, Russian President

Mandela presented the Russian president with South Africa's top award, the Order of Good Hope First Class, as a mark of respect for what he said was Yeltsin's support of the democratisation of South Africa.

But at talks in the Kremlin the two leaders had more than niceties on the agenda.

It is believed the presidents discussed the Yugoslav conflict, as well as the countries' shared interests in diamond and gold markets.

At a signing ceremony the two leaders signed a declaration on friendly relations between Russia and South Africa.

Yeltsin used the occasion to say both he and Mandela were opposed to international affairs being run by one powerful country in a "single polar" world order.

He meant the role of the United States as the major superpower and the campaign of airstrikes the U-S is leading against Yugoslavia.

After a later meeting with the speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament, the South African president made time to be especially critical of Belgrade.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I blame president Milosevic of Yugoslavia for embarking on ethnic cleansing and in the process slaughtering innocent men, innocent civilians, men, women, children and the aged"
SUPER CAPTION: Nelson Mandela, South African President

Mandela is due to leave his post as South African head of state later this year.

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