Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 23, 1990 TAG: 9003232796
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A/2 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
"What possible good would come from the president of the United States, standing halfway around the world, speculating on something that he doesn't want to see happen," Bush said Thursday.
He spoke as Soviet armored personnel carriers moved through the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius in a show of force Thursday and leaders of the rebellious Baltic republic appealed for world support.
The president, at a news conference, urged the Soviets to refrain from using force to put down Lithuania's independence move.
He said he was pleased Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze had said Moscow would not use force.
"Please continue to exercise that kind of restraint. And remember, no use of force," Bush said.
He called on the Kremlin and Lithuanians to negotiate their differences.
"They should talk about that," Bush said when asked about Gorbachev's demand that the republic's citizens surrender their personal firearms. "My appeal would again be peaceful resolution through discussion of this difficult question."
Bush said it would be "presumptuous and arrogant" for him to get more detailed and say which side should initiate talks.
The State Department was more critical of the Soviet moves.
"We're concerned by the order to have internal security and secret police troops seize private sporting guns unless they are surrendered," department spokesman Richard Boucher said.
Bush reiterated that the United States has never recognized the Soviet Union's forced annexation of Lithuania in 1940. "However, there are certain realities in life - the Lithuanians are well aware of them - and they should talk, as they are, with the Soviet officials about these differences," he said.
The president took questions from reporters on the White House lawn following a tree-planting ceremony to highlight his budget proposal for a $175 million forestation program.
On other topics, Bush said:
He sees no need for Soviet troops in Eastern Europe, including Poland where some officials have said a continued Soviet presence is needed for stability. "The sooner they get out of there the better," he said.
He has "a nuance of difference" with Polish Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki on whether a treaty is needed to guarantee current borders between Poland and Germany when East and West Germany unite. The Poles insist that a written guarantee is needed. Bush does not go that far, although he says current borders should remain.
A comment he made about opposing Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem did not contribute to the fall of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir's government.
by CNB