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H-01
DODE-OO EXIM-06 NSCE-OO NSAE-OO COME-OO HA-09
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CON F IDE N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 07 MOSCOW 34165

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR

TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINR, SCOM, SCUL, SOCI, ECON, UR
SUBJECT: USSR DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS: DECEMBER 1

1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.

2. THE FOLLOWING NOTES ON CURRENT SOVIET DOMESTIC

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS COVER THE PERIOD ENDING DECEMBER
1 AND INCLUDE MATERIAL NOT REPORTED ELSEWHERE. SOME OF
THE INFORMATION IS SPECULATIVE AND SHOULD BE TREATED
WITH CAUTION.

LEADERSHIP
/ ----.-----
3. GORBACHEV. IN REMARKS BEFORE REPRESENTATIVES OF
ROMAN SOCIETY NOVEMBER 30, GORBACHEV STRESSED THAT THE
SOVIET UNION WOULD REMAIN LOYAL TO ITS SOCIALIST CHOICE
BUT WAS NOW READY TO ADMIT IT DID NOT HAVE A MONOPOLY
ON TRUTH. HE PRESENTED NEW THINKING AS A SUCCESSOR TO
THE BEST TRADITIONS OF HUMANISM, DECLARING THAT
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PERESTROYKA ENTAILED A RETURN TO "THE STREAM OF

WORLDWIDE TRANSFORMATIONS." HE NOTED THAT THE MORAL
VALVES OF RELIGION SERVED THE INTERESTS OF
PERESTROYKA. TOWARD THE END OF HIS REMARKS, HE SAID,

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE

REVIEW AUTHORITY: MARTIN MCLEAN
CLASSIFICATION: CONFIDENTIAL REASON: 1.4(B), 1.4(D)
DECLASSIFY AFTER: 2 DEC 2014
DATE/CASE ID: 18 SEP 2009 200802200
UNCLASSIFIED
6. DEFENSE COUNCIL. MARSHAL AKHROMEYEV (PROTECT) TOLD UNCLASSIFIED
EMBOFF DURING A BREAK IN THE SUPREME SOVIET SESSION
NOVEMBER 28 THAT SUPREME SOVIET CONFIRMATION OF THE
COMPOSITION OF THE DEFENSE COUNCIL, ON THE AGENDA FOR
THE FALL SESSION, WOULD BE DELAYED AT LEAST UNTIL THE
SPRING SESSION. THE MATTER WAS STILL IN COMMITTEE. A
SUPREME SOVIET SECRETARIAT STAFFER CONFIRMED THAT,
ADDING THAT OTHER RELATED MINISTRY OF DEFENSE BUSINESS
WAS ALSO STILL IN COMMITTEE.

7. LIGACHEV. ACCORDING TO POLITICAL COMMENTATOR

ARKADIY VAKSBERG (PROTECT), NEWSPAPER EDITORS HAVE BEEN
GRANTED PERMISSION TO CRITICIZE LIGACHEV OPENLY AT
EDITORIAL MEETINGS, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE NOT YET BEEN
AUTHORIZED TO PUBLISH THE CRITICISM. VAKSBERG TOOK
THIS AS ANOTHER SIGN OF LIGACHEV'S WEAKENING POLITICAL
POSITION AND PREDICTED LIGACHEV WOULD BE REMOVED FROM
THE LEADERSHIP EARLY NEXT YEAR.

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INFO LOG-OO ADS-OO AID-OO INR-05 SS-OO CIAB-OO EB-OO

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L-03 LAB-04 CTME-OO TRSE-OO PM-10 ITC-01 OPIC-08
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UNCLASSIFIED
INFO AMCONSUL LENINGRAD UNCLASSIFIED
CON F IDE N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 07 MOSCOW 34165

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR

TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINR, SCOM, SCUL, SOCI, ECON, UR
SUBJECT: USSR DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS: DECEMBER 1

8. MEDVEDEV. "PRAVDA" (NOVEMBER 28) CARRIED EXCERPTS

FROM MEDVEDEV'S REMARKS TO A CONFERENCE OF ACADEMY OF
SCIENCES PARTY WORKERS HELD IN THE LAST WEEK OF
NOVEMBER _ HIS REMARKS WERE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE
DEBATE OVER THE ROLE OF THE PARTY NOW GATHERING STEAM
IN THE RUN-UP TO THE XXVIIITH PARTY CONGRESS NEXT
OCTOBER. MEDVEDEV:

--CRITICIZED BOTH "CONSERVATIVE-DOGMATICS," WHO WANTED

TO TURN :BACK THE CLOCK, AND "LEFT-RADICALS," WHO WERE
ADVOCATING A BOURGEOIS-LIBERAL SYSTEM FOR THE SOVIET
UNION;

--NOTED THE XXVIIITH PARTY CONGRESS WOULD BE "IN

ESSENCE EXTRAORDINARY" AND CALLED FOR CAREFUL
PREPARATIONS;

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--SAID THE PARTY SHOULD BE TRANSFORMED FROM AN

ORGANIZATION STANDING ABOVE SOCIETY INTO THE POLITICAL
AVANT GARDE OF SOCIETY; AND

--ARGUED ARTICLE SIX OF THE USSR CONSTITUTION (ON THE

PARTY'S LEADING ROLE) SHOULD BE REVIEWED ONLY AS PART
OF A REVISION OF THE CONSTITUTION AS A WHOLE.

9. GIRENKO. IN AN INTERVIEW PUBLISHED IN "PRAVDA"

(NOVEMBER 30), GIRENKO DISCUSSED THE NEW CENTRAL
COMMITTEE DEPARTMENT OF INTERETHNIC RELATIONS, CREATED
ON THE BASIS OF THE SECTION OF INTERETHNIC RELATIONS OF
THE STATE-LEGAL DEPARTMENT. THE NEW DEPARTMENT WILL BE
DIVIDED :INTO THREE SECTIONS DEALING WITH:

--THE UNION REPUBLICS, EXCLUDING THE RSFSR;

--THE RSFSR; AND

UNCLASSIFIED
--THEORETICAL ISSUES, COORDINATION OF EFFORTS OF
RESEARCH INSTITUTES, AND FORECASTING.
UNCLASSIFIED
NOT SURPRISINGLY, GlRENKO SINGLED OUT THE BALTICS AND
TRANSCAUCASIA AS REGIONS WITH ESPECIALLY ACUTE
NATIONALITY PROBLEMS. HE OPPOSED REDRAWING BORDERS AND
PRESENTED THE RESTORATION OF A GERMAN AUTONOMOUS REGION
AS AN ACT OF HISTORICAL JUSTICES NOT AS A CASE OF
REDRAWING BORDERS. THE INTERVIEW SUGGESTS GlRENKO HAS
BEEN TAPPED TO HEAD THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE COMMISSION ON
NATIONALITY POLICY.

10. CENTRAL COMMITTEE PLENUM. THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE

IS WIDELY EXPECTED TO MEET IN PLENUM BEFORE THE OPENING
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OF THE SECOND CONGRESS OF PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES DECEMBER

12. MOST EMBASSY CONTACTS EXPECT THE PLENUM TO DEAL
WITH MATTERS RELATED TO THE CONGRESS. NO MAJOR CADRE
CHANGES .ARE EXPECTED. WERE A PLENUM TO CONVENE, IT
MIGHT ALSO FORMALLY ESTABLISH AND CONFIRM THE
MEMBERSHIP OF THE RSFSR BURO AND THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE
COMMISSION ON NATIONALITY POLICY AGREED TO AT THE
SEPTEMBER PLENUM.

11. NEW OBKOM FIRST SECRETARY. VLADIMIR STEPANOV, A

CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBER WHO LOST IN THE MARCH
ELECTIONS TO THE CONGRESS OF PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES,
"RETIRED" AS KARELIAN OBKOM FIRST SECRETARY NOVEMBER
30. THE KARELIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE RECENTLY BEEN
SEVERELY CRITICIZED FOR POOR PERFORMANCE, SOMETHING
THAT PROBABLY CONTRIBUTED TO STEPANOV'S DECISION TO
RETIRE. BY OUR COUNT, STEPANOV IS THE NINTH OBKOM
FIRST SECRETARY DEFEATED IN MARCH TO RETIRE SINCE
MID-JULY. N.YA. KIR'YANOV, AN OBKOM SECRETARY, WAS
ELECTED FROM A FIELD OF TWO TO SUCCEED STEPANOV.

SUPREME SOVIET
/ ------- ------
12. EXTENDED SESSION. THE FALL SESSION OF THE SUPREME
SOVIET ADJOURNED NOVEMBER 28, NOT NOVEMBER 24 AS
ORIGINALLY PLANNED, TO DEAL WITH PRESSING BUSINESS.
THE SESSION CLOSED WITHOUT COMPLETING WORK ON 19 OF THE
PLANNED 34 AGENDA ITEMS. THE MOST IMPORTANT
ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE LAST TWO DAYS OF THE SECOND

UNCLASSIFIED
SESSION WAS PASSAGE OF THE BALTIC ECONOMIC AUTONOMY UNCLASSIFIED
BILL NOVEMBER 27. AWAITING CONSIDERATION BY THE NEXT
SESSION OF THE SUPREME SOVIET ARE THE NEW EMIGRATION
BILL, THE PRESS LAW, AND BILLS ON OWNERSHIP,
LAND-TENURE, TAXATION, AND SOCIALIST ENTERPRISE. IN AN
INTERVIEW PUBLISHED IN "PRAVDA" (DECEMBER 1), FIRST
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INFO LOG-OO ADS-OO AID-OO INR-05 SS-OO ClAE-OO EB-OO

DODE-OO H-01 EXIM-06 NSCE-OO NSAE-OO COME-OO HA-09
L-03 LAB-04 CTME-OO TRSE-OO PM-10 ITC-01 OPIC-OB
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TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7323
INFO AMCONSUL LENINGRAD

CON F IDE N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 07 MOSCOW 34165

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR

TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINR, SCOM, SCUL, SOCI, ECON, UR
SUBJECT: USSR DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS: DECEMBER 1

DEPUTY SUPREME SOVIET CHAIRMAN LUK'YANOV GAVE HIGH

MARKS TO THE FALL SESSION. WITHOUT MENTIONING NAMES,
HE SAID A NEW GENERATION OF PROMISING POLITICIANS HAD
EMERGED. HE LAID SPECIAL STRESS ON THE ROLE OF THE
COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS IN REVIEWING SOVIET
FOREIGN POLICY.

13. DEPUTIES SCORE ON PRESS LAW. SUPREME SOVIET

DEPUTY SOBCHAK (PROTECT) TOLD EMBOFFS NOVEMBER 29 THAT
THE FALL SESSION'S GREATEST SUCCESS WAS BEATING BACK A
THINLY VEILED GOVERNMENT EFFORT TO UNDERCUT THE PRESS
BILL NOVEMBER 27. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE SUPREME
SOVIET DEPUTIES HAD EXERCISED THEIR LEGISLATIVE
AUTHORITY TO MOVE DECISIVELY AND INDEPENDENTLY ON
PENDING LEGISLATION.

Bl
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Bl

-JlMOST DEPUTIES HAD

L -__________________________________

BEEN SURPRISED WHEN PRESENTED WITH SUGGESTED REVISIONS

THAT WOULD PRECLUDE INDIVIDUAL SPONSORSHIP OF
PUBLICATIONS AND REQUIRE PUBLICATIONS TO CLEAR THEIR
CONTENT WITH SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS. HE SAID
DEPUTIES' EFFORTS TO FIND OUT THE ORIGIN OF THE
SUGGESTED REVISIONS HAD BEEN DEFLECTED. ACCORDING TO
I IMANY
DEPUTIES ATTRIBUTED THEM TO GORBACHEV Bl
ADVISER GEORGIY SHAKHNAZAROV AND BELIEVED THEY MUST
HAVE BEEN TABLED AT GORBACHEV' S BEHEST. THE SUPREME
SOVIET SOUNDLY REJECTED INCLUDING THESE REVISIONS BY A
MARGIN OF 376 TO 8.

15. THE PRESS LAW WILL BE PUBLISHED AND THEN SENT TO

THE NEXT SUPREME SOVIET FOR FINAL ACTION. ALTHOUGH
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR RAPID ACTION ON THE PRESS
LAW, SOBCHAK FOR ONE WAS OPPOSED TO PUTTING THE MATTER
BEFORE THE SECOND CONGRESS OF PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES. BILLS
PASSED IN THE FIRST READING BY THE SUPREME SOVIET
PASSED IN THE SECOND READING - AND THUS BECOME LAW -
WITHOUT MAJOR REVISIONS, HE EXPLAINED. IT WAS THUS
BETTER TO WAIT FOR THE SPRING SESSION OF THE SUPREME
SOVIET THAN TO TURN TO THE CONGRESS AND HUNDREDS OF
ADDITIONAL PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES, WHOSE OPINIONS ON THE
PRESS LAW WERE NOT CLEARLY DEFINED.

16. SPRING SESSION. SOME DEPUTIES, INCLUDING

BURLATSKIY, SHEKHAVTSOV, NIKOL' SKIY, AND SAKHAROV
(PROTECT ALL) HAVE TOLD US THE SPRING 1990 SESSION
COULD BEGIN AS EARLY AS JANUARY. OTHER DEPUTIES,
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INCLUDING SOBCHAK, YEL'TSIN, BISER, YARIN, AND

AKHROMEYEV (PROTECT ALL) BELIEVE THE NEXT SESSION WILL
NOT BEGIN BEFORE FEBRUARY.

17. PLANNING FOR THE CONGRESS. IN THE MEANTIME,

DEPUTIES ARE PREPARING FOR THE CONGRESS OF PEOPLE'S

UNCLASSIFIED
DEPUTIES,WHICH BEGINS ON DECEMBER 12. SEVERAL
DEPUTIES, INCLUDING YARIN, SOBCHAK, BISER AND GREZIN
UNCLASSIFIED
(PROTECT ALL), BELIEVE THE CONGRESS WILL LAST ONLY
10-12 DAYS.

--ACCORDING TO BISER, THE CONGRESS, TENTATIVELY

SCHEDULED TO END DECEMBER 23, WOULD LIKELY BE EXTENDED
TO ACCOMMODATE URGENTLY NEEDED DISCUSSION OF
INTERETHNIC ISSUES.

--ACCORDING TO YARIN, THE CONGRESS' AGENDA WILL FOCUS

ON THREE AREAS: RESULTS OF THE SUPREME SOVIET'S FALL
SESSION, URGENT ECONOMIC REFORM MEASURES, AND THE
1991-95 FIVE-YEAR PLAN. SUPREME SOVIET DEPUTIES, YARIN
SAID, WANTED AN AGENDA SHARPLY NARROWED TO ECONOMIC
REFORM AND RECOVERY ISSUES IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT A
REPETITION OF THE POLEMICAL, FREE-WHEELING ACTIVITY OF
THE FIRST CONGRESS LAST SPRING. THREE HUNDRED SPEAKERS
WERE ALREADY REGISTERED TO ADDRESS THE CONGRESS.

--ACCORDING TO YEL'TSIN, THE CONGRESS SHORTLY AFTER IT

CONVENES WILL APPROVE AN AMENDED AGENDA, INCLUDING
DISCUSSION OF CONTROVERSIAL ARTICLE 6 (REJECTED DURING
SUPREME SOVIET CONSIDERATION OF THE AGENDA FOR THE
CONGRESS) AND OF PRINCIPLES OF LAND, OWNERSHIP, AND
SOCIALIST ENTERPRISE.

DOMESTIC AFFAIRS
j---------------
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ACTION EUR-OO

INFO LOG-OO ADS-OO AID-OO INR-05 SS-OO ClAE-OO EB-OO

DODE-OO H-01 EXIM-06 NSCE-OO NSAE-OO COME-OO HA-09
L-03 LAB-04 CTME-OO TRSE-OO PM-10 ITC-01 OPIC-08
PA-01 CEA-01 OMB-01 STR-18 INRE-OO FRB-03 ACDA-12
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TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7324
INFO AMCONSUL LENINGRAD

UNCLASSIFIED
CON F IDE N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 07 MOSCOW 34165
UNCLASSIFIED
E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINR, SCOM, SCUL, SOCI, ECON, UR
SUBJECT: USSR DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS: DECEMBER 1

18. RSFSR WRITERS' UNION PLENUM. THE PLENUM CONTINUED

TO BE A HOT TOPIC IN MOSCOW. SOME OF THE MORE
ANTI-SEMITIC AND RUSSIAN CHAUVINIST COMMENTS AT THE
PLENUM WERE PUBLISHED IN TWO REFORM-MINDED WEEKLIES,
"OGONYOK" (NO. 48) AND "NEDELYA" (NO. 47). THE
CONSERVATIVE WEEKLY "LITERATURNAYA ROSSIYA" (NO. 48)
PUBLISHED FULLER EXCERPTS, ACCUSING "OGONYOK" AND
"NEDELYA" OF RIPPING REMARKS OUT OF CONTEXT AND OF
BEING PROFESSIONALLY SLOPPY. MEANWHILE, THE PRESIDIUM
OF THE WRITERS' UNION REPORTEDLY REMOVED ANAN'YEV AS
CHIEF EDITOR OF THE LIBERAL THICK JOURNAL "OKTYABR'"
NOVEMBER 29 AND REPLACED HIM WITH VLADIMIR LICHUTIN,
REPUTEDLY AN ARCH-CONSERVATIVE. A SECOND CONSERVATIVE
WRITER, VLADIMIR KRUPIN, IS SET TO REPLACE ALEKSEYEV AT
THE CONSERVATIVE THICK JOURNAL "MOSKVA" BY THE END OF
THE YEAR, ACCORDING TO AN INFORMED SOURCE.

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19. INFORMAL GROUPS. THE SVERDLOVSK "ASSOCIATION OF

DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATIONS" HELD ITS SECOND MEETING ON
NOVEMBER 18, ACCORDING TO RELIABLE DISSIDENT SOURCES.
THE ASSOCIATION'S MAIN AIM IS TO COORDINATE THE
ACTIVITIES OF SVERDLOVSK OBLAST'S DEMOCRATIC
MOVEMENTS. TWENTY INFORMAL GROUPS WERE REPRESENTED,
INCLUDING SEVERAL DISTRICT VOTERS CLUBS, THE UNION OF
COOPERATIVISTS, AND THE "UNITY" WORKERS ASSOCIATION.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED ONE
SUPPORTING THE STRIKING MINERS IN VORKUTA AND ANOTHER
CALLING FOR THE ADOPTION OF A LAW ON POLITICAL PARTIES
AND ASSOCIATIONS.

BI

UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED Bl

REPUBLICS
/--------
21. INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN REPUBLIC AND ALL-UNION
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LAWS. ACCORDING TO SUPREME SOVIET DEPUTY SOBCHAK

(PROTECT), ALTHOUGH MANY CONTRADICTIONS NOW EXIST
BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC AND ALL-UNION LEVEL, THESE
PROBLEMS WILL BE WORKED OUT DURING THE FORMULATION OF
THE NEW USSR CONSTITUTION. HE SAID, "WE ARE LETTING
THE REPUBLICS MAKE ALL THE MISTAKES, SO WE MAY LEARN
FROM THEM." SOBCHAK BELIEVED THE NEW USSR
CONSTITUTION WOULD LEAN MORE IN THE REPUBLICS' FAVOR
THAN THE PRESENT ONE, PARTICULARLY IN AREAS SUCH AS
OWNERSHIP OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

22. LITHUANIA. POLITBURO MEMBER MEDVEDEV WAS

DISPATCHED TO VILNIUS TO PARTICIPATE IN A LITHUANIAN
CENTRAL COMMITTEE PLENUM DECEMBER 1 CONSIDERING PLANS
FOR THE UPCOMING EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS OF THE
LITHUANIAN COMMUNIST PARTY. THE LITHUANIAN PARTY IS
WIDELY EXPECTED TO SECEDE FROM THE CPSU AT THE
CONGRESS. MEDVEDEV RELEASED AN APPEAL FROM GORBACHEV
TO THE COMMUNISTS OF LITHUANIA, THE TEXT OF WHICH HAS
NOT YET BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE CENTRAL PRESS. IN
REMARKS AT THE PLENUM (SEE "PRAVDA," DECEMBER 2) ,
MEDVEDEV PLEADED WITH THE LITHUANIANS TO REMAIN IN THE
CPSU. HE ARGUED THAT:

--IF CENTRIFUGAL FORCES GOT THE UPPER HAND IN THE

SOVIET UNION THAT WOULD SPELL THE END OF PERESTROYKA;

--SELF-DETERMINATION SHOULD NOT BE REDUCED SIMPLY TO

THE QUESTION OF SECESSION;

--DEMOCRATIZATION WAS PROCEEDING APACE IN THE SOVIET

UNION AND MORE AUTONOMY WAS BEING GIVEN TO REPUBLIC

UNCLASSIFIED
COMMUNIST PARTIES; UNCLASSIFIED
--IT WOULD MORE FRUITFUL TO WORK FOR REFORM FROM WITHIN

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ACTION EUR-OO

INFO LOG-OO ADS-OO AID-OO INR-05 SS-OO CIAE-OO EB-OO

DODE-OO H-01 EXIM-06 NSCE-OO NSAE-OO COME-OO HA-09
L-03 LAB-04 CTME-OO TRSE-OO PM-10 ITC-01 OPIC-08
PA-Ol CEA-01 OMB-01 STR-18 INRE-OO FRB-03 ACDA-12
USIE-OO JUSE-OO SP-02 SNP-01 PRS-01 E-01 P-02
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FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7325
INFO AMCONSUL LENINGRAD

CON F IDE N T I A L SECTION 05 OF 07 MOSCOW 34165

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR

TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINR, SCOM, SCUL, SOCI, ECON, UR
SUBJECT: USSR DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS: DECEMBER 1

THE CPSU; .AND

--IT WAS DOUBTFUL THE LITHUANIAN COMMUNIST PARTY COULD

SURVIVE ON ITS OWN GIVEN THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN
LITHUANIA.

MEDVEDEV'S PUBLISHED REMARKS CONTAINED NO THREATS TO

USE FORCE TO PREVENT THE LITHUANIAN PARTY FROM
SECEDING. NOTHING LESS THAN THAT IS LIKELY TO DETER
THE LITHUANIAN PARTY FROM SECEDING FROM THE CPSU RATER
THIS MONTH.

23. LATVIA. THE BURO OF THE LATVIAN COMMUNIST PARTY'S

CENTRAL COMMITTEE MET NOVEMBER 29 TO DISCUSS THE
REPUBLIC PARTY'S FUTURE STATUS. A GROUP OF THIRTY-NINE
COMMUNISTS, INCLUDING EIGHT REPUBLIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, URGED THE LATVIAN COMMUNIST PARTY TO RENOUNCE
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"THE UTOPIAN GOAL OF BUILDING A COMMUNIST SOCIETY AND

THE DOGMATIC INTERPRETATION OF MARXISM-LENINISM." THE
ADDRESS EVOKED SHARP DEBATE AND IN THE END THE BURO
FORMED WORKING GROUPS TO DRAFT NEW RULES AND A NEW
PARTY PROGRAM FOR THE LATVIAN PARTY. THE LATVIAN
CENTRAL COMMITTEE WILL MEET IN EARLY JANUARY TO "RENEW
ITS COMPOSITION AND MAKE CHANGES IN THE CENTRAL
COMMITTEE APPARATUS." (TASS, NOVEMBER 30)

24. ESTONIA. AS OF NOVEMBER 11, UNOFFICIAL "CITIZEN

COMMITTEES" HAD REGISTERED 330,000 "ESTONIAN CITIZENS
AND APPLICANTS FOR ESTONIAN CITIZENSHIP," ACCORDING TO
T. VELLISTE, COCHAIRMAN OF THE GENERAL CITIZENS
COMMITTEE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA. COMMITTEES ARE
REPORTEDLY FUNCTIONING IN 114 LOCALITIES AND HAVE
ELECTED COUNTY COMMITTEES IN ALL ELEVEN OF ESTONIA'S
COUNTIES. ON NOVEMBER 11, THE COMMITTEES ESTABLISHED A
GENERAL CITIZENS COMMITTEE OF ESTONIA TO PREPARE FOR
ELECTIONS TO A "CONGRESS OF ESTONIA." THE CONGRESS'
MAIN TASK WILL BE TO DECLARE ESTONIAN INDEPENDENCE.

25. NAGORNO-KARABAKH. IN CLOSED SESSION NOVEMBER 27,

THE USSR SUPREME SOVIET PASSED A RESOLUTION ON THE
KARABAKH ISSUE, REPORTEDLY AFTER HEATED DEBATE. THE
RESOLUTION:

--NOTES THAT THE AZERBAYDZHANI AUTHORITIES HAVE

RESOLVED TO TAKE DECISIVE MEASURES TO END THE BLOCKADE
OF ARMENIA AND NAGORNO-KARABAKH;

--REINSTATES THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH SOVIET AND CREATES A

"REPUBLIC ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITTEE" (WITHOUT SPECIFYING
ITS FUNCTIONS);
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--ABOLISHES THE COMMITTEE OF SPECIAL ADMINISTRATION,

ESTABLISHED EARLY THIS YEAR; CREATES AN "ALL-UNION
SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE" UNDER THE USSR SUPREME SOVIET TO
MONITOR DEVELOPMENTS; AND GIVES THE SUPERVISORY
COMMITTEE CONTROL OVER MVD TROOPS IN THE OBLAST' ;

--CALLS FOR ENHANCED AUTONOMY FOR NAGORNO-KARABAKH;

UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED
--CALLS ON AZERBAYDZHANI AND KARABAKH AUTHORITIES TO
PREVENT CHANGES IN THE DEMOGRAPHIC BALANCE IN
NAGORNO-KARABAKH; AND

--RECOMMENDS NORMALIZATION OF TIES BETWEEN AZERBAYDZHAN

AND ARMENIA.

26. THE RESOLUTION WILL PROBABLY DO NOTHING TO EASE

TENSIONS IN THE REGION.

--ARMENIANS WILL LIKELY BE DEEPLY ALARMED THAT

NAGORNO-KARABAKH IS RECOGNIZED AS AZERBAYDZHANI
TERRITORY. AT A MINIMUM, ARMENIANS WANT THE OBLAST I

REMOVED FROM AZERBAYDZHANI JURISDICTION. THEY WILL

SURELY VIEW THE ABOLITION OF THE COMMITTEE OF SPECIAL
ADMINISTRATION (WHICH SUBORDINATED THE OBLAST' TO
MOSCOW) AS A STEP BACKWARDS, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE NOT
PLEASED BY THE WAY THE COMMITTEE HAD CARRIED OUT ITS
FUNCTIONS.

--THE RESOLUTION IS CLEARLY INTENDED TO MEET ARMENIAN

CONCERNS ABOUT THE RECENT ECONOMIC BLOCKADE,
DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES IN KARABAKH, AND THE LACK OF A
FUNCTIONING SOVIET IN THE OBLAST'. ARMENIANS, HOWEVER,
WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO QUESTION
AZERBAYDZHANI GOODWILL ON THESE ISSUES.

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INFO LOG-OO ADS-OO AID-OO INR-05 SS-OO ClAE-OO EB-OO

DODE-OO H-01 EXIM-06 NSCE-OO NSAE-OO COME-OO HA-09
L-03 LAB-04 CTME-OO TRSE-OO PM-10 ITC-01 OPIC-08
PA-01 CEA-01 OMB-01 STR-18 INRE-OO FRB-03 ACDA-12
USIE-OO JUSE-OO SP-02 SNP-01 PRS-01 E-01 P-02
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FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7326
INFO AMCONSUL LENINGRAD

CON F IDE N T I A L SECTION 06 OF 07 MOSCOW 34165

UNCLASSIFIED
E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR UNCLASSIFIED
TAGS: PGOV, PHOM, PINR, SCOM, SCUL, SOCI, ECON, UR
SUBJECT: USSR DO~STIC DEVELOPMENTS: DECEMBER 1

27. DURING A SPASO HOUSE DINNER NOVEMBER 29, YEVGENIY

PRIMAKOV (PROTECT), A CANDIDATE POLITBURO MEMBER AND
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SUPREME SOVIET'S COUNCIL OF THE
UNION, SAID, "THE ARMENIANS WILL SIMPLY HAVE TO COME TO
TERMS WITH THE PRESENT SITUATION." HE IMPLIED THERE
WAS NO HOPE NAGORNO-KARABAKH WOULD EVER BE UNITED WITH
ARMENIA. ACCORDING TO PRIMAKOV, THERE IS NO SOLUTION
TO THE PROBLEM AND EMOTIONS ARE RUNNING TOO HIGH FOR
ARMENIANS AND AZERBAYDZHANIS TO REACH A COMPROMISE.
GEORGIY TARAZEVICH (PROTECT), CHAIRMAN OF THE SUPREME
SOVIET COMMISSION ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH, WHO VISITED THE
AREA EARLY IN NOVEMBER, TOLD EMBOFF NOVEMBER 16 THAT HE
BELIEVED THE SITUATION HAS DEADLOCKED.

28. ARMENIA. ACCORDING TO I Bl

~I____________~IWHO RECENTLY V·~I~S~I~T=E~D~ARME~==N~I~A-:--------~ Bl

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--ARMENIANS WERE EXTREMELY PLEASED BY THE SENATE

RESOLUTION ON KARABAKH, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY HAD
THOUGHT THE UNITED STATES HAD ABANDONED THEM ON THIS
ISSUE;

--ARMENIANS ARE SENDING "ARMED PATROLS" TO KARABAKH TO

PROTECT ARMENIAN VILLAGES; THE PATROLS STAY THERE
FIFTEEN TO THIRTY DAYS BEFORE BEING RELIEVED BY NEW
PATROLS;

--ARMENIANS BELIEVE SOVIET TROOPS AND AZERBAYDZHANIS

ARE COORDINATING ATTACKS ON ARMENIAN VILLAGES; FIRST,
THE SOVIET TROOPS COME IN AND DISARM A VILLAGE; THEN
THE AZERBAYDZHANIS ATTACK.

--ARMENIANS ALSO BELIEVE AZERBAYDZHANIS ARE BUYING

WEAPONS - INCLUDING TANKS - FROM THE SOVIET MILITARY.
(COMMENT: THE SOVIET MILITARY HAS IN FACT SOLD SOME
DISARMED TANKS TO COLLECTIVE AND STATE FARMS FOR USE IN
FIELD WORK.)

--SOME ARMENIAN ENTERPRISE DIRECTORS ARE IN THE PROCESS

OF CONVERTING PARTS OF THEIR ENTERPRISE TO PRODUCTION

UNCLASSIFIED
OF WEAPONS FOR USE AGAINST AZERBAYDZHANUNCLASSIFIED

--ARMENIANS ARE CHARGING THAT THE AZERBAYDZHANIS ARE

GATHERING LARGE SUMS OF MONEY TO BRIBE RUSSIAN DEPUTIES
IN MOSCOW TO VOTE FOR THEIR POSITION ON KARABAKH.

WE FIND THESE CHARGES HARD TO BELIEVE, PARTICULARLY

THOSE ON SOVIET MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO AZERBAYDZHAN.
WE PASS THEM ON AS AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE CURRENT STATE
OF MIND IN ARMENIA.
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29. SOUTH OSSETIA. TENSION CONTINUES IN THE SOUTH

OSSETIAN AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC BETWEEN GEORGIANS AND
OSSETIANS. ACCORDING TO IZVESTIYA (NOVEMBER 30), 18
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED AND STRIKES ARE
WIDESPREAD. THE LOCAL POPULATION HAS DEMANDED THAT
USSR INTERIOR MINISTRY TROOPS REPLACE THE GEORGIAN
INTERIOR MINISTRY FORCES IN THE REPUBLIC.

30. UKRAINE.
ACCORDING TOI Bl
I ITHE
ELECT I ONS!;-:I;::;N~U""K::;::;RA:;-"-:I;::;N"'E:;--:ARE"""''''''''''UN:-:;:'-;;;L;:-:I;::;K::;::;E;:;-:;L''''Y''---;T''''O~--' Bl
RESULT IN MAJOR CHANGES IN THE SUPREME SOVIET BECAUSE
PROGRESSIVE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO RUN, ESPECIALLY IN THE
CENTRAL REGION. MORE PROGRESSIVE POLITICS ARE POSSIBLE
IN WESTERN UKRAINE BECAUSE THE AREA IS TRADITIONALLY
MORE NATIONALISTIC AND ACTIVIST. IN EASTERN UKRAINE,
POOR ECONOMIC CONDITIONS HAVE PUSHED BOTH THE UKRAINIAN
AND RUSSIAN POPULATIONS TOWARD MORE PROGRESSIVE
POLITICS. CONSERVATIVE OFFICIALS, HOWEVER, DOMINATE
EVEN IN THESE AREAS, ACCORDING TO THE ACTIVIST, AND
THIS WILL INHIBIT ANY QUICK CHANGE IN THE REPUBLIC'S
CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP.

31. UKRAINE. ACCORDING TO A PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCHER

FROM POLTAVA:

--A LOCAL SURVEY INDICATED THAT ONLY 12 PERCENT OF THE

PEOPLE NOW HOLDING OFFICIAL POSITIONS IN POLTAVA WILL
BE RE-ELECTED;

--A SURVEY AMONG KOMSOMOL MEMBERS IN OCTOBER REVEALED

THAT 90 PERCENT OF ITS MEMBERS BELIEVED THE KOMSOMOL
SHOULD BE INDEPENDENT OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY;

UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED

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INFO LOG-OO ADS-OO AID-OO INR-05 SS-OO ClAE-OO EB-OO

DODE-OO H-01 EXIM-06 NSCE-OO NSAE-OO COME-OO HA-09
L-03 LAB-04 CTME-OO TRSE-OO PM-10 ITC-01 OPIC-08
PA-01 CEA-01 OMB-01 STR-18 INRE-OO FRB-03 ACDA-12
US IE-OOJUSE-OO SP-02 SNP-01 PRS-01 E-01 P-02
T-01 /091 W
------------------011041 040640Z /23
R 030155Z DEC 89
FM AMEMB~SY MOSCOW
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7327
INFO AMCONSUL LENINGRAD

CON F IDE N T I A L SECTION 07 OF 07 MOSCOW 34165

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR

TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINR, SCOM, SCUL, SOCI, ECON, UR
SUBJECT: USSR DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS: DECEMBER 1

--THE SITUATION IN POLTAVA IS VERY TENSE BECAUSE

ACTIVISTS ARE TRYING TO ORGANIZE INFORMAL GROUPS, WHILE
PEOPLE FEAR A CRACKDOWN BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES; ALTHOUGH
PEOPLE WERE AFRAID, THEY MAY BE DRIVEN TO JOIN THESE
GROUPS AND TO STRIKE BECAUSE "THEY ARE ANGRY AND HAVE
NOTHING TO EAT."

32. MOLDAVIA. AN MOLDAVIAN ECONOMIST WHO CLAIMED TO

HAVE WORKED WITH PETR LUCHINSKIY, THE NEW MOLDAVIAN
FIRST SECRETARY, TOLD EMBOFFS DECEMBER 1 THAT:

UNCLASSIFIED
--LUCHINSKIY WAS VERY POPULAR IN MOLDAVIA AND BOTH UNCLASSIFIED
MOLDAVIANS AND RUSSIANS WERE PLEASED THAT HE HAD BECOME
FIRST SECRETARY.

--PEOPLE HAD BEEN EXPECTING LUCHINSKIY TO RETURN TO

MOLDAVIA FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS;
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--ALTHOUGH LUCHINSKIY HAD NOT WORKED IN THE REPUBLIC

FOR TEN YEARS, HE HAD KEPT IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH PEOPLE
IN THE REPUBLIC.

--EVERYONE HAD BEEN VERY DISPLEASED WITH GROSSU BECAUSE

OF HIS INABILITY OR UNWILLINGNESS TO MOVE AHEAD WITH
PERESTROYKA IN THE REPUBLIC.

--LUCHINSKIY WOULD SOON BEGIN TO MAKE SWEEPING CHANGES

IN THE REPUBLIC'S LEADERSHIP.

THE ECONOMIST SAID MOLDAVIA'S LEADERS WERE GENERALLY

INCOMPETENT BECAUSE, UNLIKE IN THE BALTIC REPUBLICS,
THE BEST LEADERS IN MOLDAVIA ALWAYS MOVED ON TO
MOSCOW.

HUMAN RIGHTS
/-----------
33. JEWISH CONFERENCE. OVER 100 JEWISH CULTURAL
GROUPS WILL MEET IN MOSCOW DECEMBER 18-22 FOR THE
"CONGRESS OF JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIETIES OF THE
USSR." THE IDEA FOR THE CONGRESS AROSE DURING A
ROUND-TABLE MEETING OF JEWISH GROUPS IN RIGA LAST MAY,
ACCORDING TO A PROMINENT JEWISH ACTIVIST. TOPICS WILL
INCLUDE JEWISH CULTURE AND EDUCATION, TRADITION AND
RELIGION, AND EMIGRATION. ABOUT 100 FOREIGN GUESTS
FROM THE UNITED STATES, UNITED KINGDOM, AND ISRAEL HAVE
BEEN INVITED, AS WELL AS SEVERAL SOVIET OFFICIALS.
ORGANIZERS REPORT THAT THE MOSCOW CITY SOVIET, AFTER
HAVING BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE CONGRESS, OFFERED TO ASSIST
WITH ACCOMMODATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION.
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34. LENINGRAD MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. SMITH

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