[NEWS] from SU

[urdc...@uncanet.bitnet]

>From: pi...@NIC.EU.net (Piet Beertema)
>Newsgroups: misc.headlines,talk.politics.soviet
>Subject: [NEWS] Forwarded "as is" from USSR
>Message-Id: <35...@mcsun.eu.net>
>Date: 19 Aug 91 20:15:48 GMT
>Followup-To: talk.politics.soviet
>Organization: EurOpen
>
>
>Message-Id: <AB5gv...@interfax.msk.su>
>Organization: INTERFAX
>From: l...@interfax.msk.su (Leonid Belopilsky)
>Date: Mon, 19 Aug 91 13:16:37 +0200 (MSD)
>
> INTERFAX NEWS AGENCY
>
> EXPRESS
>
> AUGUST l9, l99l 12:30
>
> LEADERSHIP OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION APPEALS TO CITIZENS
>
> USSR INTERIOR MINISTRY RESTORES VERTICAL LAW-ENFORCEMENT
> STRUCTURES
>
> YELTSYN FAILED TO CONTACT GORBACHEV
>
> AT THE OFFICE OF THE MOSCOW MILITARY COMMANDANT
>
> COMMANDER OF LENINGRAD MILITARY DISTRICT APPEARS ON TV
>
> * * *
>
> LEADERSHIP OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION APPEALS TO CITIZENS
>
> The President of Russia Boris Yeltsyn, the acting
> chairman of the Russian Supreme Soviet Ruslan Khasbulatov and
> Prime-Minister Ivan Silayev have declared that the legitimate
> President of the USSR was dismissed on the night of August l8,
> l990.
> In an appeal to the citizens of Russia this is described
> as "a right-wing, reactionary, anti-constitutional coup".
> They note that there were attempts of an overthrow
> before.
> Yeltsyn, Silayev and Khasbulatov said that the use of
> force in governing the country is unacceptable. "This
> discredits the USSR in the face of the whole world, undermines
> our prestige in the international community and returns us to
> the cold war epoch and the isolation of the Soviet Union from
> the world community," the appeal says.
> The three leaders declared "the so-called committee that
> came to power" as well as all its decisions illegal.
> They expressed assurance that local government bodies
> will strictly observe the constitutional laws and decrees of
> the president of the Russian Federation.
> They called for giving President Gorbachev a chance to
> address the nation as well as immediately convening an
> extraordinary Congress of USSR People's Deputies.
>
> "We call for a general strike without a time limit till
> these demands are fulfilled", the document says.
>
> USSR INTERIOR MINISTRY RESTORES VERTICAL LAW-ENFORCEMENT
> STRUCTURES
>
> In reply to a question from IF's reporter about steps
> taken by the USSR Interior Ministry following the decisions of
> the political leadership of the country on the introduction of
> a state of emergency in a number of regions, the head of the
> ministry's public relations center Andrei Chernenko said that
> at the moment the ministry is concentrating its attention on
> the state of public order.
> At a working conference Interior Minister Pugo emphasised
> the necessity of strengthening the defence of the civic
> interests of the population irrespective of the place of their
> residence, nationality and social standing.
> The restoration of the vertical structure of law-
> enforcement bodies was described as the necessary measure for
> the implementation of this program. Appropriate information is
> submitted to the regional Interior Ministries.
>
> NOTE
>
> On August l9 IF will be issuing urgent newsletters
> instead of regular bulletins.
>
> YELTSYN FAILED TO CONTACT GORBACHEV
>
> Speaking at a Moscow news conference on Monday the
> Russian President Boris Yeltsyn declared that the Ukraine and
> some other republics which he managed to contact share the
> opinion of the Russian leadership about the developments in
> the country. According to Yeltsyn, he failed to contact
> Gorbachev. All means of communication, the Russian President
> declared, are controlled by "the putschists". He also said
> that in response to Order Number One announced on radio today
> the Russian President is going to issue a decree on
> disobedience to the order. The Russian government, Yeltsyn
> said, will continue its work.
> The news conference was also attended by Prime-Minister
> Ivan Silayev and Vice-President Alexander Rutskoi.
>
> AT THE OFFICE OF THE MOSCOW MILITARY COMMANDANT
>
> IF's reporter was informed by the office of the Moscow
> military commandant that no orders have been received on
> changing its functioning order. It was also said that today
> such an order is not expected.
>
> COMMANDER OF LENINGRAD MILITARY DISTRICT APPEARS ON TV
>
> At l0:00 a.m. the commander of the Leningrad military
> district Colonel-General Victor Samsonov appeared on local
> radio and television. He said that the he has been appointed
> the commandant of Leningrad and the surrounding area by the
> State committee for the state of emergency. He announced that
> since 4 a.m. on August l9 a state of energency and curfew were
>
> introduced in the region. Strikes, rallies, demonstrations and
> processions are banned. The activities of political parties
> hindering the normalization of the situation and sabotaging
> the decisions of the committee will be banned.
> Samsonov said that strict control over the media is
> introduced, some of them might even be closed. Besides, no one
> will not be allowed to quit jobs of one's own free will. He
> also said that the staffs of the organizations that will be
> closed under orders from the commandant will be forcefully
> employed "at factories, plants and farms".
> According to Samsonov, the committee for the state of
> emergency for the Leningrad region will include the leader of
> the regional committee of the CPSU Boris Gidaspov, the vice-
> mayor of Leningrad Vyacheslav Shcherbakov, the chairman of the
> Leningrad regional council Yuri Yarov and be presided by
> Samsonov himself.
> The Mayor of Leningrad Anatoli Sobchak is absent from the
> city.
>
>
> According to unconfirmed reports, a full-scale meeting of
> the Central Committee of the CPSU is due today on August l9.
>
> XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
>
> BALTFAX
>
> August 19, 1991, 12:50
>
> FOR SUBSCRIBERS' ATTENTION:
>
> Today IF will release express news only.
>
>
> IN TALLINN THE SPECIAL DEFENCE COUNCIL HELD A SESSION.
> ESTONIAN AUTHORITIES REAFFIRM THEIR POLICY OF RESTORING
> INDEPENDENCE BY PEACEFUL MEANS
>
> Estonia's interim defence council held a session in
> Tallinn on Monday. The session was chaired by the head of
> Estonia's parliament Arnold Ruutel. The council urged the
> population, local government bodies as well as state and
> public structures to display calm and fortitude.
> It adopted a statement, pointing out that Estonia's
> democratically elected government and state structures
> reaffirm their policy of restoring Estonia's independence by
> peaceful means.
> There are reports that Estonia's prime minister Edgar
> Savisaar who is on a visit in Sweden is returning to Estonia.
> Estonia's foreign minister Lennart Meri is on a visit in
> Finland. So far he has no intention of returning home.
> According to BF's correspondent, last January Meri received
> special instructions to form a government in exile.
> Vladimir Vinogradov, secretary of the coordinating
> council of the Estonian intermovement told BF that his
> movement supports the USSR leaders' appeal to the Soviet
>
> people. "All this is happening in the interests of the working
> people", V.Vinogradov stressed.
>
>
>
> VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE USSR
>
> Speaking on local radio Monday morning, the head of
> Lithuania's parliament Vytautas Landsbergis declared that the
> people of Lithuania "will not collaborate with the puppet
> authorities should such be installed in their republic".
> "Martial law might be imposed in Lithuania on Monday", he
> said. "If military commandants impose their power, try to
> avoid casualties", V.Landsbergis pointed out. Lithuania's
> President Vytautas Landsbergis urged the people to gather in
> front of the parliament building.
> The presidium of Lithuania's parliament is convening for
> an urgent session. MPs are recalled from their vacations.
> BF's correspondent reports from Vilnius that independent
> Lithuanian TV which made its telecasts from Kaunas following
> the invasion of the TV center in Vilnius by the military on
> January 13 this year has stopped functioning. According to
> BF's correspondent, the relay station in Fitkunauc has been
> seized. A small private radio station continues its
> broadcasts.
>
>--
>
>Message-Id: <ABc2w...@interfax.msk.su>
>Organization: INTERFAX
>From: l...@interfax.msk.su (Leonid Belopilsky)
>Date: Mon, 19 Aug 91 13:42:46 +0200 (MSD)
>
> INTERFAX NEWS AGENCY
>
> EXSPRESS
>
>
> AUGUST l9, l99l 13:30
>
> - JOINT STATEMENT OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT AND CABINET
> PRESIDIUMS
>
> - GROUP FOR STATE OF EMERGENCY SET UP IN KAMCHATKA
>
> * * *
>
> JOINT STATEMENT OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT AND CABINET PRESIDIUMS
>
> The Presidiums of the parliament and government of
> Armenia have issued a joint statement saying that "at this
> tense and critical hour for the whole country Armenians should
> demonstrate the staunchness and restraint inherent in them,
> manifest labor discipline and not give in to provocations".
> The statement stresses that the presidiums are constantly
> following the developments in the country's leadership and
> will react accordingly.
>
>
> GROUP FOR STATE OF EMERGENCY SET UP IN KAMCHATKA
>
> On August l9 a session of the Kamchatka regional
>
> executive committee attended by the heads of its key
> departments, members of the presidium of the regional council,
> and media representatives formed a group for the state of
> emergency.
> The aim of the group will be to respond to the
> developments in the region, work out and approve possible
> decisions. The group is led by the vice-chairman of the
> regional council Albert Usov.
>--
>
>Message-Id: <ABgDx...@interfax.msk.su>
>Organization: INTERFAX
>From: l...@interfax.msk.su (Leonid Belopilsky)
>Date: Mon, 19 Aug 91 15:02:50 +0200 (MSD)
>
> INTERFAX NEWS AGENCY
>
>
> INTERFAX NEWS
>
> August 19, 1991, 14:50
>
>
> THE UKRAINE TOOK A STAND SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE RUSSIAN
> LEADERSHIP, SAID BORIS YELTSIN
>
> Russia's President Boris Yeltsin has told newsmen that
> the Russian leadership succeeded neither in broadcasting nor
> in telecasting its appeal. Areas in Russia are receiving the
> appeal over telephone.
> Yeltsin called upon the leaders of all countries to
> condemn the coup.
> According to Russia's President, the chairman of the
> Ukrainian parliament Leonid Kravchuk told him that the
> presidium of the Ukrainian parliament took a stand similar to
> that of the Russian leadership. It decided not to submit to
> the orders issued by the State-of-Emergency Committee (SEC).
> The acting chairman of Russia's parliament Ruslan
> Khasbulatov told newsmen that the presidium of Russia's
> parliament held an urgent conference and decided to convene
> the parliament for an emergency session on Wednesday to
> discuss the political situation in the Russian Federation.
> The representatives of constituent republics and
> autonomous regions authorized to sign union treaty are now in
> Moscow, said R.Khasbulatov.
> The building of Russia's parliament has been surrounded
> by tanks, said Russia's prime minister Ivan Silayev.
> Answering newsmen's questions Boris Yeltsin said that
> today he was prevented from entering the Kremlin where he was
> going to meet with G.Yanayev. Later Yeltsin managed to get in
> touch with Yanayev who told him that Gorbachev could no longer
> perform the functions of president.
> His attempts to get in touch with Gorbachev ended in
> failure, said B.Yeltsin. "If Gorbachev is alive and still
>
> there (at the presidential villa in the Crimea), he is
> blocked", said Russia's President. He spoke with Gorbachev for
> the last time last Friday, said Yeltsin. According to him, "on
> Friday Gorbachev was safe and sound", and intended to hold an
>
> important conference on August 21.
>
>
> YELTSIN ISSUED A DECREE DENYING RECOGNITION TO THE STATE-OF-
> EMERGENCY COMMITTEE
>
> Russia's President Boris Yeltsin signed a decree which
> proclaims the State-of-Emergency Committee as unconstitutional
> and qualifies its actions as treason.
> The decree proclaims all orders issued by the SEC as
> illegal and null and void in the territory of Russia. The
> lawful authorities in the territory of Russia continue to
> function, said Yeltsin.
> "The activity of persons who comply with the orders of
> the SEC will be qualified in accordance with the criminal code
> of the Russian Federation and subjected to legal proceedings",
> the decree says.
> The decree came into force as soon as it was signed.
>
>
> THE LEADERS OF THE STATE-OF-EMERGENCY COMMITTEE WILL GIVE A
> NEWS CONFERENCE
>
> Members of the State-of-Emergency Committee G.Yanayev,
> V.Pavlov and O.Baklanov will give a news conference at the
> press center of the USSR foreign ministry at 17:00 today.
>
>
> MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC REFORMS GIVES A PRESS CONFERENCE
>
> The Movement for Democratic Reforms gives a press
> conference at 15:00 today at the building of the Soviet
> Foreign Policy Association, 10, Elizarova St. It will release
> a statement.
> Telephone numbers for contacts: 975-21-67, 297-78-35,
> 299-15-12.
>--
>INTERFAX 250-92-55, 250-92-57
>LEONID BELOPILSKY l...@interfax.msk.su