Ambassador Robert Strauss of the United States heaped praise on Boris Yeltsin on Monday, saying that he believed Russia's first president was still "as strong as ever".


Strauss, who is due to end his term in Moscow next month, expressed his faith in Yeltsin during a farewell address to the American Business Club, dismissing recent speculation that the president's grip on power was slipping.


"His government has done remarkably well", said Strauss. "I want to remind you of last April when there were threats about people like Andrei Kozyrev and Yegor Gaidar being ousted".


Strauss was referring to the last session of Russia's highest legislative body, the Congress of People's Deputies, which attempted to scale down Yeltsin's powers last spring and is likely to try again when it convenes this winter.


Speaking informally to about 40 business people, Strauss evaluated the status of the Russian government and reflected on his short tenure as ambassador to the former Soviet Union and Russia.


A former chairman of the Democratic National Committee who arrived in Moscow last September, Strauss will step down as ambassador in mid-November.


Over the last year, he has become an ardent fan of Yeltsin's.


"He is deft as a politician", Strauss said of the president. "I have seen him grow as a player on the world stage and watched him handle his political fires with great finesse".


"Think of the things that he has


had to do", he said. "It's amazing. I'm not as pessimistic as some are about where it's going. He has a stern commitment to reform".


The 74-year-old ambassador also told the audience that he thought he deserved a straight "A" report card for his own work in Russia. Strauss, a self-made millionaire, often strayed from the usual diplomatic protocol by speaking his mind.


Strauss acknowledged concerns expressed by the foreign business community over certain decisions taken by the Russian government that appear anti-capitalistic.


"On the macro level things are a


bit discouraging", he said. "I am disappointed that not more has been accomplished with legislation on taxation and property - both real and intellectual".


He asked business people to look at the micro level where there has been "good news", citing the birth of new kiosks and the proliferation of food on store shelves as examples.


"These are the things that make a difference in the life of an average Russian", he said.


"I'm bullish on Russia", he said. "It's not going to change this week or month. But it will not and cannot fail".