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From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com
Organization: American Cybercasting
Subject: Sample Moscow News art.218 Sat, Aug 22 1992
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 92 22:04:19 EDT

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    DATE(YYYY/MM/DD): 1992/08/19
    TITLE: Sword for a Cossack and dagger for a highlander
    BY: Lyudmila Leontyeva
    SUBJECTS: 17,33
    SECTION: 5
    
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    SUMMARY: Interview with Valery Kokov, President of the Kabardino-
             Balkar Republic.
    ###
         
         Kabardino-Balkaria:
         Sword for a Cossack and dagger for a highlander
         The  'MN'  correspondent  in  the  Northern  Caucasus  interviews
    President Valery Kokov of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic.
         MN: The  latest convention  of the  Congress of  the  Kabardinian
    People (CKP), whose active members tried to set up parallel government
    structures in the republic, can be assessed an attempted coup d'etat.
         V.K.: The  CKP leaders  are overstepping  the bounds  of peaceful
    coexistence with  the people  who live  in  Kabardino-Balkaria.  Their
    activity goes  agains the  Constitution. They  are trying  to  isolate
    Kabarda from  the republic,  although this  idea belonged  not to  the
    Kabardinians, but  was a  response to  the resolution  of the congress
    held by  the National  Council of the Balkarian People(NCBP). But most
    people realize  that if  Balkaria secedes, the Cossacks will raise the
    same question...  Then how  are we  going to draw ethnic boundaries on
    our tiny territory?
         So, trying to end the perpetual dispute on what the peoples want,
    we decided  to hold  a nationwide  plebiscite. This idea is opposed by
    the CKP  and the  NCKP, which  means that they are not sure that their
    people will support them.
         MN: But  there is  the third  socio-political force in Kabardino-
    Balkaria --  the Russians.  They make  up a  third of  the  republic's
    population.
         V.K.:   Their   stabilizing   role   in   Kabardino-Balkaria   is
    inestimable. They support the government, the president, especially in
    interethnic politics.  We maintain close contacts and face no problems
    at all.  Only the  Law on  the Exoneration of Cossacks, interpreted by
    various forces in their own way, may become a problem. It will be fine
    if it  is realized  within the  framework of  cultural, spiritual  and
    economic revival.  But it  will be  different if  it takes the road of
    reanimating the  military class  and everything  it entails,   when  a
    Cossack will want to carry a sword, a highlander -- a dagger...
         MN: There  has been  much talk of late about the Confederation of
    Caucasian Peoples,  which even declares the formation of its own armed
    units.
         V.K.: The  Confederation owes  its notoriety,  to a  considerable
    extent, to  the fact  that the  press is inclined to draw attention to
    the one  who is  loudest. But  in reality,  the  Confederation  is  an
    association of  like-minded people,  not so  large but  still inciting
    public indignation  and destabilizing  the situation. And this is what
    makes it dangerous.
         MN: How do you assess Russia's interethnic policy in the Northern
    Caucasus?
         V.K.: Russia  gave an  impetus to  ethnic feelings, saying: "gain
    your independence".  Therefore,  quite  naturally,  former  autonomies
    wished to  have higher status and declared their state sovereignty. So
    far, the  Federation Treaty  is not  very effective  in  dividing  the
    federal rights.  We, former  autonomies, must  know clearly that these
    are your  rights and in these questions we shall seek your advice, but
    you don't interfere in our matters.
         In addition,  a special list of enterprises, not to be privatized
    and working  for the  good of  Russia, is needed. For example, was the
    Lipetsk iron  and steel  plant created by the potential of the Lipetsk
    region alone?  Or, the  Chelyabinsk or  Norilsk iron and steel plants?
    They were  created by  the efforts  of all  republics, so  should they
    always act as beggars?
         MN:  What  are  the  relations  of  Kabardino-Balkaria  with  the
    neighbouring  Chechen   Republic.  How   do  you   assess  the  latest
    developments there?
         VK: No  burden is  weighing on  us and  relations are normal. The
    deliveries from  Chechnya help  us  meet most of our needs in fuel and
    lubricants.  From   us,  the  Chechens  get  farm  products  and  some
    industrial goods.  As to  the road  chosen, this is their right and it
    must be  respected. But  what causes  anxiety and  bewilderment is the
    protracted period  of determining  Russia's relations with the Chechen
    Republic. This  is unwise,  to  say  the  least,  and  everyone  feels
    uncomfortable.
                                   Lyudmila Leontyeva
         
         
    ***
    ***
This article is copyright 1992 The Moscow News. Redistribution to
other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American 
Cybercasting Corporation.  For more information, send-email to 
usa@AmeriCast.COM

This article is copyright 1992 The Moscow News. Redistribution to
other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American 
Cybercasting Corporation.  For more information, send-email to 
usa@AmeriCast.COM