Estonia Leader Defends Fight for Autonomy

The president of Estonia today defended his republic’s fight for greater autonomy after legislators denounced its declaration of sovereignty in a heated debate over proposed constitutional changes.

Arnold Ruutel addressed the 1,500-member Supreme Soviet on the second day of the Parliament’s debate over reforms put forward by President Mikhail S. Gorbachev last month. Gorbachev says the 120 articles of legislation are the first major step toward a political system based on law instead of central dictate.

Ruutel told fellow deputies that economic and environmental problems prompted Estonia’s declaration Nov. 16 of sovereignty over all internal affairs and of its demand to review all new Soviet legislation.

Still Dissatisfied

Ruutel said he appreciated some of the amendments to Gorbachev’s proposed reforms that were announced Tuesday, as well as plans to “widen and defend the sovereign rights of republics” in the next stage of reform. (Story, Page 4.) But he indicated that Estonia still is not satisfied with the plan being debated.

In particular, Ruutel said, Estonia would prefer to retain its current Supreme Soviet rather than to have the nation’s 15 republics create a Congress of People’s Deputies.

The congress concept is the basis of Gorbachev’s political reform.

After nearly three hours of open session, the Presidium, the nation’s highest executive body, and two committees of the Supreme Soviet met in closed session to discuss suggestions made by deputies.

Complaints Echoed

Many deputies echoed some of Estonia’s complaints about the restructuring, but most of the speakers berated the small republic for passing a constitutional amendment giving it the right to veto Soviet laws.

The Estonian action “undermines the unity and principles of our multinational state,” said a deputy from Vladimir, a town about 120 miles east of Moscow.