TASS: DRA CONFIDENTLY BUILDING NEW LIFE WITH SOVIET AID

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP96R01136R002605120003-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 8, 2010
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: December 31, 1985
• Content Type: CABLE

Approved For Release 2010/11/08: CIA-RDP96R01136R002605120003-1
UNCLASSIFIED
MSGNO 36 (FBXX) *12/31/85* *06:05:54.2.0*
ZCZC 11:03:24Z (FB)
UNCLASSIFIED
RTTUZYUW RUDOMKA5734 3650944 MTMS-UUUU--RUEBHAA.
-----R 310933Z DEC 85
FM FBIS LONDON UK
TO RUTLAAA/FBIS WASHINGTON DC
RUEBHAA/STORAGE CENTER FBIS WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/DEFINTAGNCY WASH DC
RUCLAKA/CDR4THPSYOPGP FT BRAGG NC//SB//
RUEBFGA/VOA WASH DC
RUFHVOA/VOA MUNICH GE
RUHJFBA/FBIS OKINAWA JA ~^
ACCT FBLD-EWDK cJ d v ASS
BT
EZ1:
UNCLAS 3D/PMU
EZ2:
SUBJ SU -' S~ t2 F~ f-~ +~? vra~c..E-~
TASS: DRA CONFIDENTLY BUILDING NEW LIFE WITH SOVIET AID 5.E-8 r
LD310933
MOSCOW TASS INTERNATIONAL SERVICE IN RUSSIAN 1310 GMT 30 DEC 85
((VLADIMIR NOVIKOV REPORT))
((TEXT)) KABUL, 30 DEC (TASS) -- ANOTHER 2,000 WHITE- AND
BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS IN KABUL HAVE RECEIVED CERTIFICATES ON COMPLETING
COURSES FOR THE ELIMINATION OF ILLITERACY. THERE ARE NOW ABOUT
12,500 SUCH COURSES IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN.
THEY HAVE BEEN SET UP AT ENTERPRISES AND MINISTRIES, AND
IN VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, COOPERATIVES AND MILITARY UNITS.
ILLITERACY WAS ONE OF THE WORST LEGACIES OF THE OLD REGIME,
UNDER WHICH OVER 90 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION COULD NEITHER READ NOR
WRITE. ALL THE COUNTRY'S PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS -- YOUTH, WOMEN'S
AND TRADE UNION -- ARE TAKING PART IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST IT. AS
A RESULT OVER A MILLION PEOPLE HAVE COMPLETED COURSES IN THE CAMPAIGN
AGAINST ILLITERACY.
DEEP SOCIOECONOMIC CHANGES ARE OCCURRING EVERYWHERE TODAY
IN THE ANCIENT LAND OF AFGHANISTAN. THAT WHICH ORDINARY PEOPLE
COULD NOT EVEN DREAM ABOUT BEFORE THE 1978 APRIL REVOLUTION HAS NOW
BECOME PART OF DAILY LIFE. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE COUNTRY'S
HISTORY, TRULY DEMOCRATIC BODIES OF POWER HAVE BEEN SET UP AND ARE
OPERATING IN AFGHANISTAN. AS THE BAKHTAR AGENCY REPORTS,
THE INHABITANTS OF THREE VILLAGES IN PAKHTIA PROVINCE HAVE ELECTED
THEIR OWN REPRESENTATIVES TO PEASANTS' COUNCILS. IN THE CURRENT
AFGHAN YEAR WHICH BEGAN ON 21 MARCH, SEVEN PEASANTS' COUNCILS
HAVE ALREADY BEEN SET UP IN THE PROVINCE; THERE ARE ABOUT 800
IN THE REPUBLIC.
THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT DEVOTES PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO RAISING
THE STANDARD OF LIVING OF THE PEASANTS, WHO CONSTITUTE ABOUT 80
PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY'S POPULATION. SINCE THE REVOLUTION
THEY HAVE BEEN RELIEVED OF PAYING DUTIES TO USURERS AND LANDLORDS.
UNCLASSIFIED
Approved For Release 2010/11/08: CIA-RDP96R01136R002605120003-1
 Approved For Release 2010/11/08: CIA-RDP96RO1136R002605120003-1
UNCLASSIFIED
THE WATER AND LAND REFORM HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT STEP ON THE ROAD
TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THE PEASANTS. LANDS CONFISCATED FROM THE
LANDLORDS ARE BEING HANDED OVER TO THOSE PEASANTS WHO HAVE VERY
LITTLE OR NO LAND AT ALL. SINCE THE REVOLUTION OVER 300,000
PREVIOUSLY LANDLESS PEASANTS HAVE BECOME THE OWNERS OF THEIR OWN
LAND.
THE SOVIET UNION, WHICH SUPPLIES SEEDS, FERILIZER AND
AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT, IS RENDERING GREAT ASSISTANCE TO AFGHANISTAN
IN CARRYING OUT ITS SOCIOECONOMIC CHANGES. THREE-QUARTERS
OF THE DRA'S INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IS PROVIDED BY ENTERPRISES
BUILT WITH SOVIET ASSISTANCE.
THE REPUBLIC'S ACHIEVEMENTS WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE
BUT FOR THE UNDECLARED WAR WHICH WAS UNLEASHED AGAINST THE
PEOPLE OF AFGHANISTAN BY THE FORCES OF IMPERIALISM,
HEADED BY THE UNITED STATES. COUNTERREVOLUTIONARY BANDS SENT INTO
DRA TERRITORY FROM ABROAD ARE DESTROYING INDUSTRIAL AND
AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS, BURNING SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS AND TERRORIZING
THE POPULATION. BUT THE PEOPLE OF AFGHANISTAN, SUPPORTED BY THE
ASSISTANCE OF THE SOVIET UNION AND THE OTHER FRATERNAL COUNTRIES,
ARE CONFIDENTLY BUILDING A NEW LIFE.
(ENDALL) 301310 FRIEDFELD/DR 31/0953Z DEC
BT
#5734
RTTUZYUW RUDOMKA5734 36509414 MTMS-UUUU
NNNN
NNDD
Approved For Release 2010/11/08: CIA-RDP96RO1136R002605120003-1