Bush faces libel threat

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Caeca Invidia Es

Staff Alumnus
From http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_970000/970939.stm


Former Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin is threatening to sue Republican presidential nominee George W Bush for libel.
The row follows allegations by Mr Bush that Mr Chernomyrdin embezzled part of a $4.8 billion International Monetary Fund in 1998.

The cash was intended to rebuild the ailing Russian economy.

But Mr Bush said part of the loan "ended up in Viktor Chernomyrdin's pockets".

The IMF says it has no information on the alleged misappropriation of its funds.

George W Bush's allegation

The claim against Mr Chernomyrdin came in the second TV debate between Mr Bush and the Democrat's presidential contender, Vice President Al Gore.


'Unacceptable methods'

Mr Chernomyrdin has strenuously rejected the allegation and threatened to sue the Republican presidential candidate for the damage caused to his "honour and business reputation".

"I think that it's necessary for Mr Bush to prepare for a court examination on this question," he warned.

Mr Chernomyrdin accused Mr Bush of using "absolutely unacceptable methods of discrediting Russian politicians".

"I think that the American public can objectively evaluate words that are libellous in form and dirty in essence from a man who is aspiring to the highest government post."

The Bush campaign on Thursday stood by the governor's statements, saying Mr Chernomyrdin had "made a fortune in personal profits" in the Russian oil and gas business while he was a minister of oil and gas and then as prime minister.

Mr Bush's claim follows reports last year which implied that some of the money loaned to Russia by the IMF had been diverted through New York bank accounts by Russian organised crime figures as well as members of the country's political and business establishment.

Allegations investigated

Tom Dawson, head of the IMF's foreign relations department, said the fund was very concerned about such allegations and thoroughly investigates each of them.

But he said the IMF had no information on its funds ending up "in Chernomyrdin's pocket."

Mr Dawson explained that in response to allegations about improper accounting of its loans, the IMF had introduced new policies.

This meant that Russia and all other nations were required to have their books checked by independent auditors in return for IMF support.

Credit restored

The IMF plans to send a team to Moscow in November to continue talks on restarting the IMF loan program for Russia.

It was suspended in 1998 when Russia's economy collapsed during the Asian financial crisis.

Russia, which owes the IMF about $12bn has resumed making repayments to the IMF on past loans, in an effort to win IMF approval for a resumption of the loan program.


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Being a pessimist is great, I'm always right or pleasantly surprised.
 
Let's see now, our politician calling a Russian politician dishonest......kinda like the kot callin the pettle black.

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Sam I am, grn egs n packin

Nikita Khrushchev predicted confidently in a speech in Bucharest, Rumania on June 19, 1962 that: " The United States will eventually fly the Communist Red Flag...the American people will hoist it themselves."
 
This is perfect. I understand that Gore was one of the major contacts between Chernomyrdin and the Administration as the loans were negotiated. The more the spotlight falls on this whole rotten deal, the worse for Gore. When Bush raised this in the debate, Gore was completely silent on the subject, you'll recall. It was a successful duck and cover, but not if this gets into the major media.
 
For the really astute political junkies, you caught all sorts of instances where Bush would make a reference to some perceived wrongdoing that could be linked right back to Al Gore. One was when he mentioned how Clinton/Gore opened up the wildlife refuge (I forget the name), for drilling. I believe if memory serves me, that the specific place he mentioned was granted to Occidental Petroleum of which Mr. Gore has a half million in stock. I wonder how that company ever got that contract? I guess it was GW's way to throw Al off the offensive. It makes me wonder just how much behind the scenes stuff happens right before our eyes and yet we go clueless.
 
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