Economic Reform Conference and Supreme Soviet Session

This document is a compilation of reports from the Moscow Television Service regarding economic reform and proceedings of the Supreme Soviet in November 1989. The first section details an economic conference featuring Leonid Abalkin, Deputy Chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers. Abalkin addresses questions regarding the transition to a market economy, the necessity of republican autonomy, and the challenges of implementing economic reforms amidst political and social tension. He emphasizes the need for a realistic and bold approach to reform, noting that public opinion must be mobilized and that the transition will be complex. The second section covers the proceedings of the Supreme Soviet, chaired by Nishanov. The session includes debates on the draft law on financial autonomy for the Baltic republics, the role of the press, and the management of the national economy. Various deputies, including Prunskene, Bichkauskas, and Vulfson, raise concerns regarding republican autonomy, the exclusion of certain issues from the agenda, and the handling of public demonstrations. The document highlights the internal political discourse within the Soviet government during a period of significant transition, focusing on the tension between central authority and the push for republican independence and economic restructuring.