From: pat@office.relcom.msk.su (Pataraia A.D.)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.soviet
Subject: renews.politics: At the Congress 
Date: Wed, 09 Dec 92 10:28:28 +0200
Distribution: world
Organization: RELCOM AG
Reply-To: pat@office.relcom.msk.su

                  Notes from the Congress of the People's Deputiesof Russia

PRESS-CONFERENCE
OF THE VICE PRIME MINISTER OF RUSSIA
AND PRESIDENT OF THE STATE'S PROPRIETY GOVERNING COMMITTEE
ANATOLY CHUBAYS

* Vouchers: Crash of opposition
* Alternative to Gaidar is destabilization
* Information about the resignation of the Cabinet is not true
* Compromise with the Civil Union does not mean appointing their
representatives to the minister positions.

 -- Even during the Congress the government does a lot of work.
Especially connected with the beginning privatization

Course of voucher raises despite the prognoses of opposition and
independent experts. Now it practically approached the nominal
value. So that all the forewarnings occurred to be wrong.
According to the decision of the President #721
Privatization of industry has begun. Millions of people will take
part in it. We are preparing the first auctions of vouchers.
 Small privatization increases too. About 30,000 businesses were
privatized. The state obtained 60 billion income due to this.
 Question. What would it mean for the privatization program the
resignation of Gaydar? Where do you see danger for privatization:
everybody at the Congress declares himself as a proponent of
reforms?
 Answer. Resignation of Gaidar would mean total crash of big
privatization and heavy damage for small one. I'm sure of it.
It would mean resignation of all the first ministers, including me.
Definitely! It would mean breakdown of the team, which promotes the
whole reform. There is no real alternative to Gaidar! No one could
assemble even a half of the votes, that can assemble Gaidar! ...It
is only one alternative to Gaidar:destabilization. What's about the
proponents and opponents of the reform, no one will dare to declare,
that he is against reform- it is equal to political death. Even
today (in Dec.1992 !) about 300 deputies voted against private
propriety! Resistance is extremely hard. They use all the permitted
and forbidden methods. Question. Recently Shumeyko said, that Eltsin
will name the candidacy of Gaydar two,three times, if the Congress
will not endorse it at once... But today it is said, that Eltsin
will not do so. Is it true? And why have you said this morning, that
the government will NOT resign, if Gaidar will not be endorsed?
Answer. What's about the President and his position, you would
better ask it himself. But as far as I know, if the president will
offer a candidacy of prime minister, this candidacy will be Egor
Gaidar! According to my information, he is ready to do it even
repeatedly... If the Congress will not elect Gaidar at once. About
resignation of the government: mass-media reported, that yesterday
the government decided to resign completely if Gaydar will be not
elected. I only answered, that such decision was not taken! This
information is false. But a lot of ministers hold on this position.
And one should agree, that it is their right.
 Question. What is hidden behind your stipulation: if the President
designates a candidacy?Why "if"?
 Answer. An act regulating functions and activities of government is
not adopted. So that the status of prime minister is unknown.
That's why an opinion exists, that untill adoption of this act the
election should be suspended.
 Question. And if Gaidar will not be elected again ?
What's then??
 Answer. He will be elected
 Question. But if Gaidar will not be elected and the government
resigns, the reform will be exposed to danger, will not it?
 Answer. This question is the most important for us. I'll attempt to
answer it as precisely as possible: We have taken an unequaled
responsibility and we realize the measure and character of this
responsibility. And we will attempt to carry this burden as long as
possible. Up to the limit. Up to that point, where we, remaining at
our posts, will no longer be able to do that, what we plan. A
compromise here is impossible. This means, that resignation of the
government will become possible only in the case, when it will be
deprived opportunity to promote reforms!
 Question. You speak about a compromise. But the decision of the
Congress concerning the progress of reform seems not to give the
government an opportunity for such a compromise. How can you work in
such circumstances?
 Answer. Just as before. Decisions, taken at this Congress and at
the previous one practically do not differ. For example: members of
the editorial committee seriously discussed, how  they should define
the current government : as occupational or as antinational?. That's
why Congress decisions and real life flow independently.
 Question. It is known, that you have elaborated your program
together with Civilian Union. Is it now possible to speak about a
kind of political compromise with the leaders of this movement? For
example, in the sphere of personal changes in the Cabinet...
 Question. I have already expressed my opinion regarding this
problem, if you speak about changing any concrete ministers...
Ministers must not be changed because some politician decided to
work in the capacity of Minister, but only if there are professional
faults in his work.
------------------------------------------------
Vladimir Shliemin
    Head of Information department RELCOM Corp.
    Editor of RENEWS
    Phone: +7 095 4016248
           +7 095 1989510
              Moscow
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