ABALKIN 15 NOV NEWS CONFERENCE

• Document Type: FOIA
• Keywords: UFO SPECIAL COLLECTION
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005516710
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: January 31, 2011
• Case Number: F-2010-00651
• Publication Date: November 18, 1991

C00175440
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AFSN LD1811003189
SUBJ Take 3 of 3 -- Abalkin 15 Nov News Conference
Full Text Superzone of Message
1 [Editorial Report] An APN correspondent asks about the difficulty of the
present state of affairs and whether the population expected to wait.
2 Abalkin says everyone is waiting for an instant miracle. In the past, he
says, it is at times like this that reports of UFO's start circulating.
We must convince public opinion, by means of the truth and nothing but the
truth. Huge disappointments are inevitable after huge illusions. The
unfortunate must be made aware of the state's concern for their
well-being. We must not give way to emotions. The individual must be
made to feel his own responsibility and the importance of this work. The
republics must be given their chance: In 1990 they must be zones of
change; they must show that things are changing for the better.
3 An ABC correspondent, speaking in English with superimposed Russian
translation, asks: "President Bush has said that he wants perestroyka to
succeed. What steps would you like the United States to take in the
economic sphere to help perestroyka succeed?"
4 Abalkin responds: "We must do most of the work ourselves. I remember what
Bush said about Poland and Hungary. He was quite right, I think, when he
said, as a wise and realistic politician, that the Poles and Hungarians
themselves must bring their country out of economic crisis, just like the
Soviet people must do. We must do this ourselves. I am concerned most by
what must be done in our country in these matters. As for what can be
expected of the United States of America, which might be of assistance, I
do not wish to develop this topic, because apart from the most general
concepts with which you have all long been familiar -- decide the issue of
the most-favoured nation system, remove some other restrictions -- I shall
not be enriching our knowledge with anything."
5 The (?Harlems Daglad) correspondent, speaking in Russian, asks: "We did
not all manage to follow the debates conducted at the conference. Could
you perhaps tell us more specifically which points gave rise to the most
negative reaction from the conservatives, and how do you reckon to break
this opposition?"
6 Abalkin answers: "We have a great deal of historical experience on how to
break the opposition. [laughter in hall] Therefore, the main task is how
to learn to hold a dialogue with the opposition. The best way is to
compel the conservatives to do battle with the radicals, while we get on
calmly with the job at hand. [laughter] That would be the wisest
solution, we have both radicals and conservatives. At the same time, we
must take all the valuable and useful and sensible things offered by both
of these, and include these in our programme and get on along our own way.
As for the aspects which came in for criticism, I would limit myself to
just two approaches. Emotions carried over from meetings were present at
the conference; and there were also scientific discussions.
7 "Everything starts at the very beginning: Should state-.property be left
unaltered, or should we start to modernize and renew, make it more
flexible and start the process of de-etatization, given labor collectives
on this basis the freedom to decide matters independently and to elect
their manager. Or should we maintain the system of administration by
injunction. Should we move to a market with new laws of regulating it,
with flexible and mobile prices. Or should we as before keep prices
unambiguously under harsh state control. A quite normal process is under
way, not a very pleasant one, but a normal process of counterposing and
weighing up and so forth. At the same time -- and this is also a very
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 COO 17 5 4 4 O own thing -- the existence of any opposition compels one to sharpen
ones instruments of argument, compels one to weigh up more attentively
the. possible consequences, which might be overlooked were there no such
criticism. Altogether, in the final analysis, if there is no destructive
action and no struggle, one can derive useful things from this, if one
regards taking account of diverse points of view as a factor making it
possible to ensure a more realistic program of action.
8 "Thank you for the interest you have shown in the work of our conference
and in our commission's work. Thank you." (ENDALL) 171903~^
18/0106Z NOV BT #6143 NNNN