POSSIBLE PUBLIC AFFAIRS STATEMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84B00274R000300150003-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 17, 2007
• Sequence Number: 3
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/05/17: CIA-RDP84B00274R000300150003-1
Possible Public Affairs Statement
In his press statements accompanying the release of testimony by Henry
Rowen, ChairT an of the National Intelligence Council, on the Soviet economy,
Senator Proxmire chose to emphasize one theme: the self reliance and strength
of the Soviet economy. The testimony, in fact, presented a more complex
picture:
-- The marked slowdown in the Soviet economy in recent years.
-- Despite this slowdown, the continued increases in Soviet
military forces.
-- The underlying strengths of the Soviet economy, its size,
access to natural resources, strength of its human capital
assets.
-- The importance of Western imports in relieving critical
shortages even though, as a whole, the Soviet economy is highly
self sufficient.
-- The much harder choices faced by the Soviet leadership among
consumption, investment and defense.
-- The Soviet economy is not going to collapse, only grow very
slowly.
We encourage the press to read the full statement.
Approved For Release 2007/05/17: CIA-RDP84B00274R000300150003-1