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Yeltsin goes back to work on Monday
He says recovery from surgery is over
December 20, 1996
Web posted at: 2:00 p.m. EST (1900 GMT)
MOSCOW (CNN) -- President Boris Yeltsin, saying Russia needs "an active" leader, told the nation Friday he would return to his Kremlin desk Monday morning -- nearly seven weeks after undergoing quintuple bypass surgery.
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Sitting in an overstuffed armchair, Yeltsin, dressed in a cardigan sweater and open-neck shirt, spoke decisively and firmly in what was billed as his first televised interview since his heart operation November 5.
His remarks, however, appeared to have been prepared in advance and he seemed to be reading from a prompter.
While Yeltsin occasionally gestured with his right hand, his left hand remained on the chair's armrest throughout the seven and a half minute interview.
Tough issues ahead
"The country needs an active and energetic president, especially now," the 65-year-old Kremlin leader said. Yeltsin has been working only a few hours a day since a bout of heart trouble in late June, days before he was re-elected.
The interview was recorded by the Kremlin press service at a hunting lodge about 60 miles northwest of Moscow where Yeltsin has spent the final stage of his post-operative recovery.
Yeltsin said the main problems he would have to address upon his return were workers' unpaid wages, a huge backlog of unpaid taxes, the peace process in the breakaway Chechnya region and reform of the army.
He indicated he may fire government leaders who fail to use "energy and action" to improve the Russian standard of living.
Correspondent Betsy Aaron contributed to this report
Related stories:
- Yeltsin pleased with rapid passage of Russian budget - December 15, 1996
- Yeltsin meets with chief of staff - November 29, 1996
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