YELTSIN, FRIEND `BILL' END MOSCOW SUMMIT.

Byline: William Neikirk and James P. Gallagher Chicago Tribune 

President Clinton and Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin, friends and fellow candidates for second terms in an election year, held a summit of harmony Sunday by glossing over their differences on Chechnya and other issues.

Clinton, who compared the rebellion in Chechnya to America's Civil War, did not directly challenge Yeltsin's statement that Russia should have veto power over expanding NATO membership into eastern Europe. He also praised Russia's economic and political progress under Yeltsin's leadership.

Yeltsin, referring to his friend ``Bill,'' said Russia and the United States now have an ``equivalent'' relationship. He also announced that he and Clinton had moved to settle differences over treaties involving missile defense systems and conventional forces that have produced fireworks in the past.

The politely nonconfrontational approach at the Kremlin news conference continued the tone of Saturday's summit on nuclear safety, where leaders of the world's seven richest industrial nations seemed focused on enhancing Yeltsin's image in advance of Russia's June 16 presidential elections. Moreover, Yeltsin clearly enjoyed playing host to such a tony, international gathering.

Clinton, while saying the United States consistently has pushed for a political settlement of the Chechnya crisis, said the breakaway republic is part of Russia.

By using the Civil War comparison, he appeared to support Yeltsin's military intervention in the Chechen revolt - and even compared Yeltsin with Abraham Lincoln.

``I would remind you that we once had a Civil War in our country, in which we lost on a per capita basis far more people than we lost in any of the wars of the 20th century, over the proposition that Abraham Lincoln gave his life for: That no state has a right to withdraw from our Union.''

Clinton said Yeltsin told him in their private meeting that ``he wanted a diplomatic solution'' in Chechnya and even asked him ``to do a thing or two that he thought might be helpful'' in helping to end the fighting. One thing the American president will do is contact several leaders, including King Hassan II of Morocco, in an effort to influence Chechen rebel leader Jokhar Dudayev.

Despite a bloody ambush of Russian troops last week and ample evidence of continuing Russian attacks on Chechen villages, Yeltsin again insisted that no Russian military operations are under way in Chechnya. The Chechen enclave, he added, ``from our point of view - and this is an absolute - must be and will remain within Russia.''

``Lovefest'' would not be too strong a word for the hugs-and-handshakes news conference by the two leaders, who have grown closer through their 10 meetings, numerous telephone calls, and cooperation during the past three years.

Both denied making any political deals to help each other win their election contests this year. But the spirit of harmony in the five hours of summitry - and the fact that both leaders refrained from aggravating old wounds - underscored how important both see each other's re-election efforts this year.

``I am sure that I will be victorious,'' Yeltsin declared in brushing aside a question about his leading opponent, Communist Party candidate Gennady Zyuganov.

``Thanks to President Yeltsin's leadership, 60 percent of Russia's economy is now in the hands of its people, not the state; inflation has been cut, democracy is taking hold,'' Clinton said.

The American president isn't publicly taking sides in the Yeltsin campaign, but administration officials worry that a Communist victory in the election could make him vulnerable to charges that he ``lost Russia.''