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Yeltsin on life after retirement
Interfax
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 29 December: First Russian President Boris Yeltsin said he is convinced that he bears permanent and serious historic responsibility as the first president of Russia.
"I feel this responsibility every day and that is why I behave with such restraint. I never venture to utter anything that might somehow negatively influence the situation. This would just be impermissible," Yeltsin said in an interview to the Zerkalo television programme, shown in the Russian Far East today.
The first Russian president said he had not been unoccupied since his resignation, that he reads a lot, analyses information and has many meetings. "I have recently had meetings with [Unified Energy System of Russia boss] Anatoliy Chubays, with governors and presidents, such as [President of Tatarstan Mintimer] Shaymiyev. And these are just my recent meetings," he said.
Yeltsin said he had also met recently with "oil barons to see how they are doing and what they intend to do when world oil prices go down. And gas prices will probably go down soon, too", [he said].
He also said he was "prepared to meet the heads of the main mass media, if they wish", noting that he often watches television, in particular, "Russia TV, Russian Public TV, NTV, NTV-plus, Eurosport, and TV-6".
When asked about his health, Yeltsin said he felt good. "This year I feel much better. The feeling of life is completely different. There is no inner tension, as when I was president. I work and I rest."
Yeltsin commented on his recent trip to Germany, which "made so much noise". "Specialists examined" his heart and said, "Sehr gut", Yeltsin noted. "I want to repeat what they said - everything is just okay, everything is in order," he said.
He also commented on his attitude towards the marriage between his daughter and former presidential chief of staff Valentin Yumashev. "I always highly valued independence in my daughters. I love them and trust them. If she has loved, then this is her choice. I was surprised, but also welcomed this," he said.
The first Russian president has a large family of 13 and they all visit him at home. "On Sunday, as a rule, we all gather together to have lunch or dinner. Everybody is used to this place and they like visiting it," he said.
Yeltsin also said he will greet the New Year, as always, together with his family "and with a fir tree. I, as Father Frost, will give presents to everybody. Tanyusha [Yeltsin's daughter Tatyana], as ever, will be snow maiden. Not a little snow-maiden, but a grown-up one. Snow maiden is growing up, too, you know," Yeltsin said.
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