Parliament Says ‘Nyet’ to Soviet Railway Chief
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MOSCOW — The Soviet Parliament rejected the government’s nominee to head the state railway system today, the second sitting minister given the thumbs down in as many days.
The Supreme Soviet approved four other government appointees but blocked the nomination of Nikolai Konarev, railroad boss since 1982, a day after throwing out the nation’s chief of foreign trade.
By a vote of 204 to 130, deputies rejected Konarev, 62, after criticism of the rail system’s safety record and passenger services, the official Tass press agency said.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Soviet voted down the nomination of Vladimir Kamentsev, 61, who had directed foreign trade since it was revamped by Kremlin chief Mikhail S. Gorbachev in 1987.
Both men, proposed by the government and approved by parliamentary commissions, lost despite a rule change that effectively lowered the numbers needed to win.
A series of railroad accidents and complaints about poor service have received prominent attention in the Soviet media.
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