Soviet assets
At noon, a meeting of leaders of the Union Parliament Alimzhanov and Lubenchenko with Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR Khasbulatov and the leaders of the Russian Parliament.
The results of the meeting were discussed at the session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. The main topic was the resolution of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR, according to which all property of the Union Parliament became the property of the Russian Parliament. The position of the heads of the chambers of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR divided: Lubenchenko agreed to enter into liquidation Commission, but Alimzhanov said that he regarded it as “the power of proactive pressure not only on the Federal Parliament, but also to those of the state whose committees shall continue in this job.” It is worth noting that in the Federal Parliament by that time left the representatives of all five of the Union republics.
Alimzhanov said that the Union Parliament will continue working until at least December 21, when in Alma-ATA can be decided on joining of the CIS five other former Soviet republics. In addition, Alimzhanov said that the next day will have a meeting of parliamentary leaders with Gorbachev. In addition, the President of the Soviet Union to meet with Yeltsin.
Yeltsin Interview
Boris Yeltsin gave an interview to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, which said that the former Soviet government after the agreement signed in Belarus, is no more. According to him, the last allied structures will come under the jurisdiction of Russia not later than mid-January.
The editorial in the evening edition of “Izvestia”. 17 Dec 1991
The Resignation Of Popova
Moscow mayor Gavriil Popov said that he was going to resign. The first national elected the head of the capital did not agree with the Russian government, which insisted on reforms in Moscow in the time frame of the Cabinet of Ministers unilaterally, without regard to the special situation of the city. Moreover, Popov did not agree with the fact that the Russian Parliament refused to legislate this special status of Moscow to issue.
Popov said that the Russian policy of liberalization of prices, combined with the commercialization of trade will create additional difficulties and that he is prepared to approve it only in conjunction with “landslide privatisation”. He also believed that reform is impossible without the creation of a new mechanism of power.
Confirming the rumors about his resignation, Popov stated that he had taken an informed decision. However your post he will leave only at the beginning of June 1992.
Moscow mayor Gavriil Popov in the meeting room of the constituent Congress of the “Movement for democratic reform.” 23 Sep 1991
Photo: Yuri Abramochkin/RIA Novosti
The emergence of cellular communication in Moscow
The company “Moscow cellular communications” (MCC) announced the beginning of the test the country’s first wireless system (or, as it was then called, wireless) communication.
“The essence of it is this: the caller in any part of the city not associated with a switch of a wired communication and causes the desired number on the radio. Signals are broadcast transmitted on a strictly prescribed frequency, catch transceivers scattered in a specific pattern in the city. These areas are the “honeycomb”, — explained in his article, the newspaper “Izvestia”.
The system began testing, however, in MSS hastened to announce the tariffs for cellular services. The connection will cost $995, monthly fee is $50, the cost of one minute call will be $0,6. The purchase or rental of telephone, long distance and international calls will be charged separately.
“As for the prospects of most cellular, it is possible to deploy similar networks in different regions of the country and their link to each other. Planned to create a wireless corridor between Moscow and St. Petersburg, which will include many towns and villages along the route, with subsequent release of the system in the Scandinavian countries”, wrote “Izvestia”.
Director of the farm on the farm. 1 Feb 1992
Photo: Simon, Masterman/Fotokhronika TASS
The foreign press
- “It is noteworthy that for the American side an important task at least count the weapons. No one in the West knows the exact number of warheads located in Ukraine or even in Russia. Some experts suggest that even the highest Soviet officials can remain ignorant of the number of nuclear weapons, as rival groups of military control different types of nuclear weapons”. (The New York Times)
- “Yeltsin had the political wisdom to make the popular request for independence in the neighboring republics and to adopt the system of the Confederacy to meet their needs. Mr. Gorbachev, who in the West is often seen as a shrewd politician, but a man who rarely contact with people, went the other way, spreading about how the disintegration of the Union will be the beginning of tragedy.” (The Wall Street Journal).
- “There are two ways of creation of the multinational Commonwealth. Mikhail Gorbachev chose the path of Britain and France, Boris Yeltsin until outweighed by Switzerland or America, but none of them seem to not understand how to manage the political expectations for economic initiatives”. (The Guardian)
Other news of the day
- Hungary, Poland and Czechoslovakia become associated members of the European Union.
- The UN General Assembly has repealed a 1975 resolution equating Zionism with racism. For the abolition of voted 111 members of the United Nations, including the Soviet Union.
- The first head of the Russian Academy of Sciences elected mathematician Yuri Osipov.
- The head of British intelligence MI-5 for the first time in history was a woman — 56-year-old Stella Rimington. Announced that due to the high secrecy she would not give interviews, and the press will not be granted her.
- The Swedish government has taken to Saint Petersburg humanitarian aid for residents of the Northern capital. The cost amounted to $2.5 million In Sweden hope he will help Petersburgers to survive the winter.
- In Russia, created for the fifth Communist party: Russian party of Communists (RPK). Besides her, there are already Russian Communist workers party, League of Communists, the socialist workers party and the all-Union Communist party of Bolsheviks.
- Turkey recognized all the former Soviet republics, declared their independence.
