[asia-apec 1225] Russian president cancels Apec visit

[Gatt Watchdog]

The Press, Christchurch, New Zealand
August 4 1999

Russian president cancels Apec visit

WELLINGTON - Foreign Affairs Minister Don McKinnon is not
surprised to hear Russian President Boris Yeltsin will not attend
the Apec summit meeting in Auckland next month.

"I haven't had confirmation but it's clearly his health.  He has
had to cancel a number of meetings," Mr McKinnon said.

Mr Yeltsin has ordered Prime Minister Sergei Stephashin to attend
the summit in his place.

It would be the second time in two years Mr Yeltsin had sent his
prime minister to the summit.  Former prime minister Yevgeny
Primakov attended the meeting in Kuala Lumpur last year.

Mr Yeltsin's press service gave no reason for his change of plan.
He has frequently cancelled foreign visits because of poor health.

Mr Yeltsin, 68, had heart bypass surgery in 1996 and has suffered
bouts of pneumonia and respiratory infections since then.  He has
also had a recurring ulcer in the past year. - NZPA