
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 17, 1990                   TAG: 9004170621
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/1   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MOSCOW                                LENGTH: Short

LITHUANIA TO LOSE GAS

Soviet officials ordered drastic cuts in natural gas supplies to Lithuania today, putting into force a threatened economic embargo to break the Baltic republic's drive for independence, Lithuanians said.

Soviet officials also plan to cut oil and gasoline to the republic on Wednesday, Lithuanian officials said. President Mikhail Gorbachev had given Lithuania until Sunday to repeal laws enacted since the republic's parliament declared independence March 11.

Lithuanian residents had been forming long lines at gasoline stations in recent days to fill up for what they feared might be the last time.

In Washington, President Bush said the United States would make "appropriate responses" if the Soviet Union carries out its threat. Bush refused to say what steps might be taken. "We are considering appropriate responses if these threats are implemented," he said.

"Obviously we are watching the situation very, very closely," Bush said. "Clearly those announcements are contrary to the approach that we have urged and that others have urged upon the Soviet Union."

"We are considering appropriate responses if these threats are implemented," Bush said. "And I'm going to leave it right there."

Bush concluded by saying, "What we need is dialogue, discussion and a peaceful resolution of this great difficulty there."

by CNB