Clinton Backs Latvia on Exit of Russian Troops

President Clinton pledged Wednesday to push Russia to remove the last of its troops from the Baltics “in a deliberate and firm way,” while also warning that the rights of the Russian minority in this region must be protected.

Opening an eight-day European trip with the first visit of an American President to this portion of the former Soviet empire, Clinton met with the presidents of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. He declared to a surging, flag-waving crowd gathered at the city’s historic Freedom Monument that “the chain that binds our nations is unbreakable.”

Clinton, who is headed for a three-day summit of officials from the leading industrial nations in Naples, Italy, later went to Warsaw to meet with Polish President Lech Walesa.

In Warsaw, Clinton pledged to increase international help for Poland’s poor and jobless. He found Walesa, who has been a sharp critic of American plans to delay Polish entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, in a more conciliatory mood than he had been during Clinton’s last European visit in January.

But as he talked of the American commitment to Baltic independence, Clinton also pointedly urged Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians to observe the rights of the Russian minority whose treatment remains the key sticking point in the Baltics’ disentanglement from their former Russian masters.

“Today, I appeal to you to summon what my nation’s greatest healer, Abraham Lincoln, called the ‘better angels of our nature’--to never deny to others the justice and equality you fought so hard for and earned for yourselves,” Clinton said.

His Baltic stop represented an acknowledgment of the new political maturity and rising economic prospects of the three nations, which won their independence just three years ago. The trip also was designed to underscore the President’s work to re-integrate post-Cold War Europe--a project that has become one of his more praised initiatives.

But Clinton was compelled to carefully balance his praise for what the Baltic states have accomplished with his urging that they observe the rights of their large Russian minorities.

Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin has sought pledges of fair treatment for the Russian minority in return for final withdrawal of about 4,500 troops from Latvia and 2,500 from Estonia. The last troops in Latvia are scheduled to depart by Aug. 31. But negotiations continue on departure of Russian troops from Estonia.

The delicacy of the subject was apparent even from the crowd reaction to Clinton’s speech.

Madly waving hundreds of tiny American and Latvian flags, the audience at Riga’s Freedom Monument roared as Clinton pledged: “We will rejoice with you when the last of the foreign troops vanish from your homelands.” But there was little reaction when Clinton went on to his accompanying point that “freedom without tolerance is freedom unfulfilled.”

The President raised the issue of final troop withdrawal in a telephone call Tuesday to Yeltsin, and he pledged Wednesday that he would carry a message from Estonian President Lennart Meri to Yeltsin.

But later Wednesday, Secretary of State Warren Christopher, who was traveling with Clinton, said that, while the parties were “quite close” in negotiations, “there are still significant gaps.”

As part of the visit, American officials announced they will put up $10 million in next year’s budget for Central European peacekeeping efforts, including the Baltic peacekeeping battalion, which is being assembled in the region. The United States has agreed to increase from $2 million to $4 million the amount it will spend to help dismantle a Soviet radar station in Latvia, which has been another obstacle to Riga’s good relations with Moscow.

Baltic residents, who have long sought American support, were clearly dazzled by Clinton’s visit. On a stunning summer day, Latvians lined up along the motorcade route well in advance to watch Clinton’s arrival. At the city’s largest department store, Centrs, shoppers and clerks gathered around a display of Western European televisions and beamed as they watched Clinton being greeted by President Guntis Ulmanis.

Many elderly Latvians appeared at the Freedom Monument ceremony. Latvians were honored to have “such a big man visit such a tiny country,” said Vita Liberte, a first-year law student at the University of Latvia.

The crowd was clearly delighted as Clinton at one point cried out, “Briviba! Vabadus! Laisve!” --the word Freedom! in the three Baltic languages.

Later Wednesday, Clinton met with Walesa over the negotiating table and at dinner for sessions that lasted into the night. Although American officials had braced for more complaints from Walesa, they found his rhetoric toned down.

Asked of his concern about any Russian threat to Poland’s security, Walesa said: “I would say that, today, my apprehensions amount to 40% and my hopes to 60%.”

Clinton’s visit comes at a time when the strains of economic reform have increased cries for the old ways in Poland and helped put leftist parties, including former Communists, in the Parliament.

U.S. officials say they went to Warsaw intending to deal with the new power structure and to find ways for the United States to alleviate Poland’s ills.

Among other initiatives, U.S. officials propose a “transplantation of know-how” to help speed economic reform--without large, new aid expenditures. U.S. officials plan to teach ways to train the jobless, for example, and help set up a system of mortgage-backed housing.

Special correspondent Matt Bivens in Riga contributed to this report.

Clinton Trip at a Glance

President Clinton’s schedule for the remainder of his four-nation European trip.

TODAY: POLAND

Places wreath at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw, meets Poland’s prime minister, addresses Parliament.

FRIDAY: ITALY

Meets with prime ministers of Italy, Germany, Japan, Canada. Attends informal working dinner of G-7 leaders.

SATURDAY, SUNDAY: ITALY

Meets with G-7 leaders and Yeltsin. Departs Italy for Bonn.

MONDAY: GERMANY

Meets with German president, chancellor and party leaders. Attends dinner at chancellor’s home. Addresses U.S. military personnel at Ramstein Air Base. Travels to Berlin.

TUESDAY: GERMANY

Meets with European Union and German officials. Addresses people of Berlin at Brandenburg Gate. Departs Berlin for United States.