Will Extremist Meet Clinton? Not if Diplomats Can Help It

Ever since ultranationalist Vladimir V. Zhirinovsky and his ill-named Liberal Democratic Party racked up their huge share of party votes in the recent parliamentary elections, the Clinton White House has fretted about how to handle the fiery extremist when the President comes here for his summit meeting with Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin.

At one point, Zhirinovsky’s supporters added to the Americans’ consternation by spreading the word that he would attempt to crash a scheduled reception at the U.S. Embassy for Clinton to meet “opinion leaders” in the former Soviet Union.

That raised the specter of some kind of nationally televised confrontation outside the embassy, because U.S. officials were determined to stick to their policy: No invitation, no admission. They also were not about to undermine Yeltsin’s precarious political position by giving even an indirect American blessing to Zhirinovsky.

At last, diplomats have found what they hope is a solution to their problem: They have invited Alexei Mitrofanov, a Liberal Democratic member of Parliament, to attend the reception tonight. The guest list also includes several Communists, as well as young entrepreneurs and figures from the world of Russian art and culture.

And the diplomats have come up with what they hope is an acceptable explanation for passing over Zhirinovsky himself. Clinton, they are saying, wants to meet with “the next generation” of Russian leaders.

The White House may not quite be out of the woods yet, though. One U.S. official said there is some concern that the wily Zhirinovsky might show up himself bearing Mitrofanov’s invitation.