From: JCCE@GNV.IFAS.UFL.EDU
Subject:      more exchanges with Russia
Reply-To: JCCE@GNV.IFAS.UFL.EDU
Organization: Indiana University
Date:         Mon, 27 Jul 1992 01:52:00 EST
Comments: To: china-nt@uga.cc.uga.edu

Dear China-net Users,

     Although I am a long-time China-net subscriber (since June '89)
these days I seldom have occasion to send messages over the network.
Nevertheless, I continue to monitor the network and attempt to follow the
various debates as best I can.

     This message is intended to update IFCSS activists on some of the
on-going exchanges with Russia which were initiated when NAGPS
(National Association of Graduate-Professional Students) cooperated with
IFCSS is hosting a group of Soviet visitors in 1991.  During this first visit
we (a few Soviets and a few U.S. graduate students) set up a non-profit
organization called The American-Soviet Cooperative Exchange (ASCE).
ASCE has sponsored a variety of worthy projects during its first 16
months.  Now, given the changes in the former Soviet Union, ASCE is
changing its name to Intelligentsia International.

     The primary funding sources for ASCE exchanges are federal grants
and lecture honoraria.  The first IFCSS/NAGPS project was funded through
speaking honoraria for Igor Bogdanov.  More recently we did the same to
fund visits by the Russian Minister for Youth Affairs and two prominent
Russian Marine Corps officers.  Both projects were tremendously
successful at promoting US-Russian relations.  Other groups of Russian
visitors have come to the United States sponsored by ASCE for business
and education projects.  Similarly, several groups ranging from high school
students to college students to faculty groups have traveled to Russia on
various ASCE sponsored projects.  ASCE now employs two Russian
translators to handle the various projects.  Things are going well.

     Our work has caught the attention of former U.S. ambassador to the
USSR (Matlock) who asked that we host a friend of his who wanted to
visit the United States.  We agreed and ASCE will soon host former USSR
Prime Minister Nikolai Ryzhkov.  As with the other visitors, we are
funding this project through the collection of honoraria for lecture
engagements at universities.  We are in the process of scheduling dates at
University of Florida, Florida State University, Memphis State University
and American University.

     I have included the text from one of our advertisement sheets about
Ryzhkov.  Please contact me if any of you would like more information
about this or any other ASCE project.

     Good luck with your legislative battles in Washington.

John Capece  JCCE@GNV.IFAS.UFL.EDU


                       Nikolai Ivanovich Ryzhkov


U.S.S.R. Prime Minister, 1985-1990
Chief Architect of "Perestroika"                            PHOTO
Presidential candidate (against Yeltsin), 1991


      Nikolai Ryzhkov enjoys the reputation among a majority of Russian
people as being a truly honest and intelligent political leader.  As Prime
Minister of the USSR under Mikhail Gorbachev, he was the chief architect
of "Perestroika" and instituted the first free-market reforms in the Soviet
Union.  While advocating accelerated economic reforms, his fears about
runaway inflation, economic chaos, and ethnic conflict tempered his
support for a complete dismantling of the Soviet Union and its socialist
system.  His accurate predictions of the coming economic hardships and
social strife enhanced his reputation for integrity and vision among the
people of Russia and set the stage for his 1991 Russian presidential
campaign.  Mr. Ryzhkov continues to be politically active and is preparing
to again challenge Boris Yeltsin in the next presidential election.

     As Prime Minister, Mr. Ryzhkov was a central figure in other major
Soviet events of the 80's such as the drive for independence in the Baltic
republics, the tragic earthquake in Armenia, the crumbling of the Warsaw
Pact regimes, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, and the war in Afghanistan.
His lecture will focus on the final years of the Soviet Union and the future
of Russia.  Mr. Ryzhkov's reputation for honesty and frankness promises
to make his lectures very interesting and informative.

National Sponsors:

National Association of Graduate-Professional Students
Alpha Epsilon Lambda
Intelligentsia International

For more information contact Ilya Solarev at 904-375-3014, fax:375-9042

Newsgroups: talk.politics.china