Economic Reform Conference and Supreme Soviet Session

This document is a compilation of press reports from November 1989, detailing an economic reform conference and subsequent proceedings of the Supreme Soviet. The first section covers a conference featuring Leonid Abalkin, Deputy Chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers, who discusses the challenges of transitioning to a market economy, the necessity of republican autonomy, and the complexities of price reform and ownership laws. Abalkin emphasizes the need for a realistic and bold approach to reform, noting that public opinion must be mobilized and that the transition will be turbulent. He addresses questions from international correspondents regarding the role of the congress, private ownership, and the potential for a parallel currency. The second section reports on a session of the Supreme Soviet, chaired by Nishanov. The session addresses various legislative concerns, including the Law on the Press, the financial autonomy of the Baltic republics, and the demarcation of ownership between the union and the republics. Deputies raise questions regarding the exclusion of certain issues from the agenda, the status of demonstrations, and the general principles of economic management. The document reflects the political and economic instability of the Soviet Union during this period, highlighting the tension between central authority and the push for republican autonomy.