Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 3, 1990 TAG: 9004030668
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MOSCOW LENGTH: Medium
Some deputies to the Supreme Soviet legislature found the bill too harsh, while others thought the conditions it set were not demanding enough, the official Tass news agency said.
The bill was approved by the Soviet of Nationalities, one of two houses of the parliament, Tass said, without giving a vote count. It was sent on to the second chamber, the Soviet of the Union, for possible consideration today.
An amendment approved by the Soviet of Nationalities requires any republic leaving the union to pay the costs of citizens who want to resettle back in the Soviet Union. Lithuania has a large Russian minority.
President Mikhail Gorbachev's top deputy spoke of friendly ties with Lithuania and said the Kremlin does not question its right to secede - as long as it adheres to the constitution.
The comments by Anatoly Lukyanov, chairman of the Supreme Soviet parliament, came as Lithuanian leaders sought a compromise that would allow them to start talks with Moscow without giving in to demands by Gorbachev that they first repeal their March 11 declaration of independence.
Meanwhile, legislators in the neighboring Baltic republic, Estonia, which is taking a more cautious approach to independence, approved a measuring supporting Lithuania and urging Gorbachev to open talks.
The Estonian Supreme Soviet "expresses full support of their strivings, pays high tribute to their courage and expresses recognition of the independent state organization of Lithuania," the declaration said.
On Monday, Lithuanian President Vytautas Landsbergis said his republic intends to move toward independence gradually and through negotiations. The statement marked something of a retreat from the recalcitrance that had characterized the Baltic state's three-week drive for divorce.
The secession bill would require a two-thirds vote in a referendum of any republic wishing to leave the Soviet Union. A five-year transition period would follow during which the republic and the Kremlin would divide up economic resources and settle any disputes. In addition, Moscow would have final say over terms of separation.
Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze was to arrive in Washington today to face close questioning on the Lithuanian crisis from President Bush and Secretary of State James Baker.
The United States has repeatedly called on the Soviets not to use coercion, intimidation or military force in Lithuania.
Shevardnadze assured Baker during a meeting in Namibia last month that the Kremlin would do its utmost to avoid using force to suppress the independence movement in Lithuania.
The Soviet government today closed the only border crossing between Poland and Lithuania, the Polish Foreign Ministry said.
by CNB