Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 15, 1990 TAG: 9004150134
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From the Los Angeles Times and The Associated Press
DATELINE: MOSCOW LENGTH: Medium
"The Soviet Union has until recently waged a psychological and political war against Lithuania and now it is unleashing an economic war as well," Lithuanian President Vytautas Landsbergis, the first non-Communist leader of any Soviet republic, said at a news conference. "They still demand impossible things of us, and this is a way to avoid beginning negotiations."
But despite the tough stance emanating from Vilnius, the capital, Western advisers to the Lithuanian government have said the republic must maintain economic ties with the Soviet Union if it is to survive as an independent state.
Thus in the war of nerves, Gorbachev was successful: His threat of an economic boycott raised tensions in the republic, Lithuanian leaders acknowledged privately.
Meanwhile, Pope John Paul II sent an encouraging message to Lithuania, and Britain's foreign secretary, Douglas Hurd, called on the Kremlin to open talks with the republic.
A further sign of support came from the neighboring Baltic republic of Latvia, where breakaway Communists met in the capital of Riga and vowed - even in the face of Moscow's threats against Lithuania - to create an independent Latvia.
President Bush sought more detailed information Saturday on Moscow's threat of economic retaliation, while Senate Democrats condemned Gorbachev for taking "precisely the wrong approach."
Bush told reporters he wanted to withhold further comment on the situation until he received "a clarification" on Gorbachev's ultimatum.
Secretary of State James Baker, meanwhile, said the administration was taking a `wait and see" attitude. Baker would not speculate on what form a U.S. response to sanctions would take.
Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, D-Maine, and six Democratic colleagues, just returned to Washington from a visit with Gorbachev in Moscow, condemned the economic ultimatum as "precisely the wrong approach in such a delicate and dangerous situation."
At a news conference at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Mitchell noted that on Thursday Gorbachev had expressed to the Senate delegation "his intention to resolve the situation in Lithuania by peaceful, non-violent means."
"By threatening to stop supplies of certain essential products from other Soviet republics to Lithuania, the Soviet Union is obviously trying to intimidate and coerce the Lithuanian people," Mitchell said.
Gorbachev, in a letter delivered to Vilnius on Friday night, gave Lithuania until today to withdraw its March 11 declaration of independence. Otherwise, he said, the Soviets would stop shipping items they could export to other countries for hard currency. Such products include oil and natural gas, for which Lithuania's 3.8 million residents rely completely on Moscow.
Gorbachev has repeatedly refused to negotiate with the republic until it reverses its independence declaration. For their part, Lithuanian leaders have expressed eagerness to discuss everything with the Soviet Union except the declaration itself, which they say cannot be overturned.
The draft message from Lithuania in response to Moscow read: "Unfortunately, Mr. Gorbachev, your telegram came in the midst of the Easter holiday and we cannot answer you. Before we do so, please explain specifically what supplies you intend to cut from our republic."
Lithuanian leaders, who met for about three hours at the Council of Ministers in Vilnius, decided to delay sending the telegram until early next week after it is approved by the entire Parliament, which is recessed for Easter.
by CNB