SPECIAL EDITION: CRISIS IN THE KREMLIM : Yanayev Answers Queries About State of Emergency

Here are excerpts from a question-and-answer session with journalists held by Acting Soviet President Gennady I. Yanayev and other members of the Emergency Committee on Monday:

QUESTION: Where is Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev? What is he sick with? Specifically, concretely, what disease does he have? And against whom are the tanks that we see on the streets of Moscow today directed? What is the purpose of those tanks today on the streets? Thank you.

ANSWER: Let me say that Mikhail Gorbachev is now on vacation. He’s undergoing treatment in the south of our country. He is very tired after these many years and he will need some time to get better, and it is our hope that Mikhail Gorbachev, as soon as he feels better, will take up again his office. At any rate, the policy that was initiated back in 1985 by Mikhail Gorbachev will be continued by all those present here. So far as the state of emergency is concerned, quite naturally the state of emergency is introduced as I have already stated, at a very difficult and crucial time in our history, and in order to rule out any dangers and menaces we have to take certain steps to ensure our security.

Q: I have two questions from Pravda. Perestroika has not brought any tangible results, among other things, because there was no clear-cut tactics or strategy of implementation of the policy of perestroika. Do you have a specific program for improving our economy? Will the existing laws still remain in effect? Will you still continue the movement toward a market economy?

Now my second question: The Russian Information Agency has transmitted an address by Boris Yeltsin to the Russian Federation where what happened last night was described as a right-wing, anti-constitutional coup d’etat. What do you think about this? And secondly, the same address also contained an appeal for a general strike. I think that such an appeal can have tragic consequences. Do you think that your committee will take any specific action against that?

A: Let me start by answering your second question and I’ll ask Comrade (A.I.) Tizyakov to answer your first point.

TIZYAKOV: It is true that perestroika that was initiated back in 1985 did not bring the results which we all expected from it. Our economy today is undergoing a very difficult time. There is a drop in the rate of production, and this a result of a convergence of a number of factors, including the fact that this was the first time that we’re undertaking perestroika at such a scale.

We were looking for ways and means of achieving that, and, as we search for ways and means, of course there may be such errors and mistakes. Now, where do we move on from here? The situation that has developed was the reason why the state of emergency was introduced.

You know that the system of horizontal communications and ties and relations among various enterprises have collapsed. Many of those present here know that at the end of December, 1990, a meeting of the directors of enterprises was held in Moscow which addressed relations among enterprises in various regions of this country. We discussed this problem at great length, and in January, 1991, we had 85% of the contracts which were already concluded.

We thought that this provided a good foundation. However, later on, as a result of the parade of sovereignties, many borders and frontiers were blocked including the Ukraine, Byelorussia and the Baltics and other republics, which brought about a very difficult situation for our enterprises.

There was a slowdown in the rate of production. There was a lot of uncertainty, and it has brought results. What we are going to do is this: We will try to stabilize the economy of this country. Naturally, the policy of the reforms toward a market economy will not be reversed. We think this is the right and wise policy except that we will have to make some more thinking about that and to be more organized.

YANAYEV: And now let me take up your second point. It is true that today when our people were informed about the establishment of the Emergency Committee, other members of the committee and myself had a contact with the leaders of the nine republics which had stated their readiness and willingness to become part of the new union. We got in touch with leaders of many regions and districts in this country, and I can say that, on the whole, the establishment of the committee and the efforts of this committee to lead this country out of the crisis were appreciated and supported.

I had a conversation this morning with Boris Yeltsin. I am aware of the statement made by Boris Yeltsin (words unintelligible), and today I want to emphasize that the committee for the state of emergency stands ready to cooperate with the republics, districts and regions guided by a desire to find some adequate ways and means of developing our democracy and improving our economy and culture and ensuring the human rights that would enable us most effectively to deal with the problems that we are faced with today.

I believe that if the leaders of the Russian Federation were ready to engage us in such a kind of cooperative endeavor, we could find a way and means of carrying out such cooperation.

I think that an appeal to a general strike is an irresponsible action and I do not think we can afford this when a country is undergoing chaos. It is impermissible to play the political games because--in the long analysis, in the final analysis--they always backfire against our people and if we are not indifferent to the future of our country and the future of the Russian Federation, we have to find practical ways and means of cooperating.

Q: La Stampa, Italy. I have two questions for Mr. Yanayev. The first is, could you tell us how you feel today? Do you feel healthy and, secondly, under your constitution, the state of emergency can only be introduced by the president of the country or by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, provided that the republics agree. Who took this decision? And there is no provision in the constitution for the establishment of a national salvation committee or a committee for the state of emergency. Are you going to convene a Supreme Soviet meeting any time soon?

A: With regard to the state of my health, I think I feel fit, and I am quite capable of working long hours, up to 16 hours a day, and as you can see now I’m alive and kicking and I look fit, although we had a sleepless night. Now with regard to the state of emergency, we’re guided by the principle that sometimes there are critical situations which call for immediate action. And it is our intention to ask the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R. to reaffirm the state of emergency, and that will happen on the 27th of August. A meeting of the Supreme Soviet will be convened on the 27th of August.

Q: Central TV U.S.S.R. I have a question for Mr. Yanayev. The emergency committee has stated in its address to the nation that as a first priority it will take care of the interests of the widest members of the population of this country. It will try to address the food problem. Do you have any specific measures in mind to do that? And what are your resources?

A: This is a very good question. It is a very interesting question. That the first priority step that we will take is do all we can to salvage the crops that have been brought in. I think tomorrow we’ll adopt a document that will provide for emergency action and measures to salvage whatever crops have been brought in.

Secondly, we will try to use the whole potential of our country to make up an inventory of everything that we have in this country. And our statement said that as soon as we’ve set up an inventory we’ll tell our people what we have, what our resources are, including the material resources we can put at our disposal to get the housing problem moving.

Over the past three years we did a bad job in terms of housing construction and many people who were standing in line and for new housing and expected us to fulfill the housing problem that, at the very beginning of perestroika , we proclaimed back in 1985, we could not meet their expectations, unfortunately. And therefore, I believe we are met with three tasks now: food, housing and transportation and energy because winter is approaching.

The energy situation is very difficult and we have to take extraordinary measures to make sure that the country does not face an energy crisis during the wintertime.

Q. ADN News Agency. Will the state of emergency affect the observance of the Soviet-German treaties on the Soviet troop withdrawals? And is there any reaction from Chancellor (Helmut) Kohl?

A. I believe I already mentioned that. And it says in the State of Emergency Committee communique that we assume the obligations of the U.S.S.R. There is a continuity of obligations, including those obligations vis-a-vis the Federal Republic of Germany or the united Germany, if you like.

Q. Two questions to Mr. Yanayev. Question 1, you said you consulted the presidents of the constituent republics. How do you visualize the reaction of those republics who do not belong to the (Union Treaty) nine-plus-one? And do you have a contingency plan toward putting an end to interethnic rivalry? And what is it?

A. Yes, we do have a plan to bring down the tension in interethnic relations. We have specific provisions to settle the differences between Azerbaijan and Armenia. And we have specific proposals on settling other regional issues. But those are the most important challenges facing the country. And the country’s leadership and the leaders of the state of emergency committee must get down to business without any further delay.

As for your first question, I’m afraid I have forgot that.

Q. You said you consulted the constituent republics. And how do you visualize the further development of the situation there?

A. Yes, we spoke with most of the republican leaders. I met with leaders from the 15 Russian autonomies. And I must say that we have the support from the autonomies and from the overwhelming majority of the constituent republics. They support the intention to save the country and to put our house in order.

Q. Novosti Television. (Referring to the state of emergency), Mr. Yanayev, could you spell it out for us when you say in ‘some,’ in ‘certain territories,’ what do you mean? And what is their geographic location? And when can we meet President Gorbachev?

A. As soon as he feels well enough, President Gorbachev is sure to meet journalists.

As for the state of emergency, I assume that there is no need to introduce the state of emergency throughout the country. . . . There are regions where the state of emergency must be imposed to resolve the problems . . . but the countries such as--republics such as Uzbekistan, or Kazakhstan, there’s no need to impose a state of emergency there.

I’m afraid I cannot give you the specifics, but Moscow is definitely a state of emergency territory. And as of today, the state of emergency will be introduced in Moscow.

Q. A question to Mr. (Oleg D.) Baklanov. Mr. Baklanov, what are the measures you’re about to adopt to solve the food and housing problem for the military men, whose situation is really pathetic and close to despair?

And a question to Mr. Yanayev. Mr. Yanayev, you used to be a trade union leader and a very successful one at that. My question is, are you prepared to adopt some constitutionally legitimate steps against Yeltsin’s decree, not only--which is directed not only against the party’s cells but against the trade union organization?

And a question to Mr. (Boris K.) Pugo. Your ministry is in pretty bad shape, including financially. And all the links with the republics, the Baltic republics, have been disrupted, and the Ministry of the Interior branches have fallen into the hands of separatists. What are the steps you are going to adopt in order to centralize the law enforcement system?

BAKLANOV: Let’s take these points up in their order. The purpose of what we’re doing is to concentrate whatever scarce resources we have to provide for housing for our military officers. I think we have about 200,000 families of military officers who need housing, and this is an abnormal situation; we have to use our resources and the resources under the treaty that was signed--that we will get from other countries.

YANAYEV: Now, let me take up your second point concerning the decree by President Yeltsin. I think that all the decrees and all the decisions that will be taken will be considered from the viewpoint of the state of emergency that we are introducing in this country. However, let me avail myself of this opportunity to emphasize that what the leaders of the Russian Federation are doing now, setting up barricades, calling for civil disobedience, is very irresponsible and dangerous policy. I think this policy is fraught with the potential of an armed provocation in order to lay the blame for whatever catastrophe may happen on the leaders of the Emergency Committee.

We want to issue a stern warning against that. We want to tell all the Soviet people, particularly the Muscovites, so that they know that there is a state of emergency in Moscow, and we hope that order, law and order will be ensured.

PUGO: There was also a question regarding the centralization--or better centralization in the Ministry of the Interior. I represent one of the union-controlled ministries. I must say that on the one hand I am dissatisfied with the state of affairs in this area. But on the other hand, I think that sometimes this picture is painted in too somber colors. Let me simply say that we have regular meetings with the ministers for the interior of the federal republics, and at all the meetings that we have had we met with all the ministers, including the Baltics, and the trans-Caucasian republics and Central Asia. I mean, all 15 republics were represented.

But at the same time, we would like to maintain closer cooperation. When it was said that we are poor, well, I can agree and I can also disagree with that statement. Everything is relative. This year we have received greater allocations than last year, much greater allocations, and we have raised the pay for our police officers.

However, this whole thing was accompanied by a very rapid increase in prices.

Q. Can you provide a guarantee, or can you give us your word of honor in front of members of the mass media that Mikhail Gorbachev will continue feeling better?

YANAYEV: Let me tell you that nothing threatens Mr. Gorbachev. He is in a safe place, except that he needs some time to feel better. Ladies and gentlemen, you can imagine the stress that he has had to endure over the past six years. I hope that my friend, President Gorbachev, will return to his office and we will work together.