Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 13, 1990 TAG: 9006130293
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MOSCOW LENGTH: Medium
The presidents of Lithuania and Latvia emerged smiling from two meetings with Gorbachev, and indicated it could be the beginning of a solution to the country's problems with its restive republics.
Lithuanian President Vytautas Landsbergis hinted Gorbachev might soon end the economic embargo against his republic, which declared independence from the Soviet Union on March 11.
By redefining the Soviet federation, Gorbachev could deal with the three Baltic republics' demands for independence as well as lesser separatist moves across the vast country.
On Tuesday, those problems heightened when Russia's parliament, led by Gorbachev rival Boris Yeltsin, approved a resolution declaring its laws supersede the national ones. This could dramatically reduce Gorbachev's authority because the Russian republic includes 52 percent of the Soviet Union's population and three-quarters of its land mass.
Latvia came away from Tuesday's meetings in the Kremlin with an offer from Gorbachev on starting negotiations toward independence, according to Latvian President Anatoly Gorbunov.
At a Moscow news conference with Gorbunov, Landsbergis implied that Gorbachev also offered Lithuania a compromise on independence. But he refused to elaborate, saying he would tell his republic's citizens first.
Asked if Gorbachev would end the Lithuanian embargo, which has put 26,000 people out of work, Landsbergis replied, "The blockade will not be canceled tomorrow, but the day after tomorrow, we shall see."
Estonian President Arnold Ruutel said Tuesday that Gorbachev had recognized the need for talks and a transition period toward independence, Neme Brus of Estonian Radio said.
The Russian parliament voted 907-13 to declare sovereignty. The statement was weaker than originally proposed, however, because it says sovereignty and priority of its laws over national ones will be worked out in a new Russian constitution and a new union.
Gorbachev told the presidents of all 15 Soviet republics in a separate meeting Tuesday to nominate representatives and prepare drafts for a union "that would have elements of a federation, a confederation or some such pluralistic relationship," said Landsbergis.
He said Lithuania would consider this.
Gorbachev has pledged since last fall to work out a new union treaty, but this is the first sign of action.
by CNB