CRISIS IN THE KREMLIN : Yeltsin Inspires Freedom-Seeking People of World, Reagan Asserts

Former President Ronald Reagan said Wednesday that Russian Federation President Boris N. Yeltsin, in facing down the coup in the Soviet Union, had inspired people everywhere to persist with their democratic ideals.

“This is a truly proud day for all freedom-loving people round the world,” said Reagan, who checked into the Mayo Clinic on Tuesday night along with his wife, Nancy, for their annual physical exams.

“Nancy and I are thankful that Mikhail and Raisa Gorbachev were not harmed in this attempted coup,” said Reagan, who held summit meetings with Gorbachev in Washington, Moscow, Geneva and Reykjavik, Iceland. “President Gorbachev’s return points toward a continuation of political and economic reforms.”

He said Yeltsin is to be commended “for his courage in facing down the coup. He has inspired the people of the Soviet Union and around the world to pursue with vigor their democratic ideals. There seems little doubt that reform is the course the people of the Soviet Union want to take.”