Moscow - The United States is to give the independent media in Russia $10 million (£6.4 million) to help them survive hard times and to promote pluralist values, Secretary of State, Ms Madeleine Albright told civil society activists at Moscow's All- Russia State Library for Foreign Literature.
The amount, which is available for spending in 1999, is four times the amount given to the Russian media last year. Some of the money will go on technical assistance to teach business methods to newspapers and other media organisations, some on stipends for journalists who have lost their jobs and some to buy printing presses, said State Department spokesman Mr James Rubin.
The United States will also offer more Russians the chance to live and study in the United States and will inaugurate a fellowship in Washington for scholars specialising in conflict prevention and human rights, Ms Albright said.