Take All--Gorbachev Urals Visit

Read from the scan by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word.

whole country is preparing to give the generation which did everything to defend our life, freedom and ideals, its due.

N.I. Mikhailova-Gagarina, a veteran of the airborne assault troops, entered the conversation. We are proud of what we have lived through, she said, noticeably nervous. We thank the state for its care of us. Mikhail Sergeyevich answered: The optimism, confidence and calmness of the veterans always attracts me. [passage omitted: Veteran says that the CPSU must remain united]

We need, M.S. Gorbachev said, to renew society and more fully open up the possibilities of the socialist system and increase the party's authority by deeds. And we will certainly preserve our ideals and spiritual values, we will carry the banner of our cause high.

19 For how do some people act: They, it seems, are in favor of the renewal process but are ready to throw out the baby, as they say, with the bath water, and are prepared to reject socialism. We ourselves, of course, must investigate our party base. If someone has decided to act differently today, let him act as his conscience allows. But we must go to the congress consolidated.

120 M.S. Gorbachev approached another group of citizens who wanted to know the president's point of view on the problems of forming a market economy in the country and his opinion on the draft laws being prepared and the means for improving the economy. There was a detailed and frank conversation on these themes.

121 One of the questions, outside of the general framework, went like this: Why are talks not being conducted with Lithuania?

122 -- We conduct talks with other states -- Mikhail Sergeyevich answered -- but we consider Lithuania a Soviet republic. If you remember the question was put precisely in this way at the Third USSR Congress of People's Deputies. And you and I, in the face of the Congress decisions, are in an identical situation.

123 LD2704111190TAKE11

124 [Excerpts] The Urals has from time immemorial forged weapons for the defense of the homeland. A powerful defense potential has ben created here. The new political thinking born of perestroyka has allowed the country to reorient a considerable proportion of the capacities of the defense complex to production of purely peaceful output.

125 An exhibition of consumer goods set out at one of the enterprises which is undergoing conversion, the Urals Electro-Mechanical Works, shows how this difficult process is proceeding. M.S. Gorbachev looked around the exhibition.

126 He assessed the creative work of the engineers, designers, and workers by whose efforts high-quality competitive civilian products are being produced.

127 As the saying goes, there are goods and goods. It is very important, the president of the USSR noted, to use the great intellectual and technical potential of the defense sector to obtain output of the highest category. The exhibition displays the most modern models of medical apparatus, household electronics, and video equipment. It was emphasized in the conversation that it was important for these items to be put into mass production more quickly and that they should become not just exhibition display items but goods which everyone can buy.

128 A detailed dialogue about the problems being tackled by Soviet scientists and about the development of the scientific potential and of the Urals