U.S. POLICY ON RECOGNITION OF FORMER SOVIET

UNCLAS STATE 419544

INFORM CONSULS ALSO FOR USEC/USOECD

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PNAT PBTS
SUBJECT: U.S. POLICY ON RECOGNITION OF FORMER SOVIET
REPUBLICS: PRESS GUIDANCE

ROME PASS VATICAN FOR HOLY SEE


1. SUMMARY. THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED USG POLICY ON
RECOGNITION OF THE REPUBLICS OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION ON
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25. FOLLOWING IS PRESS GUIDANCE THAT
ADDRESSEES MAY USE WITH LOCAL PRESS AND OTHER CONTACTS.
PARA 2 IS GENERAL GUIDANCE IN Q-AND-A FORMAT; PARA 3 IS
THE TEXT OF THE PRESIDENT'S DECEMBER 25 STATEMENT, AND
PARA 4 IS THE TEXT OF THE PRESIDENT'S FAREWELL STATEMENT
TO FORMER USSR PRESIDENT MIKHAIL GORBACHEV. END SUMMARY.


2. BEGIN TEXT OF Q-AND-A.

RECOGNITION POLICY
--------------

Q: HOW DO THE SIX REPUBLICS WITH WHICH THE PRESIDENT
DID NOT ANNOUNCE HIS INTENTION TO ESTABLISH
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS ATTAIN SUCH RELATIONS?

A: WE HAVE RECOGNIZED ALL TWELVE OF THE FORMER
REPUBLICS AS INDEPENDENT, SOVEREIGN STATES.

THE OVERALL PLAN ANNOUNCED BY THE PRESIDENT IS THAT
OUR EMBASSY IN MOSCOW WILL REMAIN THERE AS OUR
EMBASSY TO RUSSIA, AND OUR CONSULATE GENERAL IN KIEV
WILL BECOME OUR EMBASSY TO UKRAINE. WE WILL MOVE
QUICKLY TO ESTABLISH FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH
ARMENIA, KAZAKHSTAN, BYELARUS, AND KYRGYZSTAN.

, CONCERNING THE OTHER SIX REPUBLICS:

-, WE WANT TO BE ASSURED OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE
PRINCIPLES ADVANCED BY SECRETARY BAKER. WE WILL
ACTIVELY BE SEEKING THAT ASSURANCE.

-- THE MEASURES BY WHICH WE WILL BE DECIDING FUTURE
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS ARE THOSE YOU ARE FAMILIAR
WITH: SECRETARY BAKER'S FIVE PRINCIPLES AND THE
NEW STATES' IMPLEMENTATION OF RESPONSIBLE
POLICIES ON KEY MILITARY AND SECURITY ISSUES
AND INTERNATIONAL LEGAL AND ECONOMIC OBLIGATIONS.

-- OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS WE HAVE HAD
OFFICIAL CONTACTS WITH ALL OF THESE
GOVERNMENTS. THESE CONTACTS WILL CONTINUE.

-- WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE ALL OF THE REPUBLICS
ON ISSUES OF MUTUAL CONCERN, INCLUDING
DISCUSSIONS OF THEIR PROGRESS IN IMFLEMENTING
DEMOCRATIC AND ECONOMIC REFORMS.

-- WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO CONDUCT FULL
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WILL ALL OF THE REPUBLICS.

Q: WHEN WILL YOU BE OPENING EMBASSIES IN THE NEWLY
RECOGNIZED COUNTRIES?

A: OUR EMBASSY IN MOSCOW WILL FUNCTION AS OUR EMBASSY
TO RUSSIA, AND OUR CONSULATE GENERAL IN KIEV WILL
BECOME OUR EMBASSY TO UKRAINE.

WE HAVE HAD PLANS FOR SOME TIME TO ESTABLISH POSTS
IN ALMA-ATA, YEREVAN, AND MENSK. WE INTEND TO HAVE
THESE EMBASSIES FUNCTIONING BEFORE THE END OF THIS
FISCAL YEAR, AND WE WILL OPEN A POST IN BISHKEK AS

SOON AS RESOURCES PERMIT. WE WILL BE WORKING WITH
CONGRESS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PLAN.

Q: WHAT STAGE ARE WE AT WITH REGARDS TO NOMINATING
AMBASSADORS/STAFFS?

A: WE ARE REVIEWING STAFFING QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE
OPENING OF THE NEW POSTS.

Q: WILL AMBASSADOR STRAUSS, FOR THE TIME BEING,
CONTINUE AS AMBASSADOR TO ALL THE NEW COUNTRIES OR
JUST RUSSIA?

A: AMBASSADOR STRAUSS WILL SERVE AS AMBASSADOR TO
RUSSIA. WE ARE WORKING TO NOMINATE AMBASSADORS TO
THE OTHER REPUBLICS WITH WHICH WE ARE ESTABLISHING
FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS. OUR CONSUL GENERAL IN
KIEV WILL SERVE AS CHARGE UNTIL AN AMBASSADOR TO
UKRAINE IS NAMED. FOR THE OTHER COUNTRIES, FOR THE
TIME BEING, WE WILL RELY ON AMBASSADOR STRAUSS AND
HIS STAFF TO MAINTAIN CONTACTS WITH THESE
GOVERNMENTS UNTIL PERMANENT ARRANGEMENTS ARE DECIDED
UPON.

Q: WILL THE REPUBLICS WITH WHICH WE DID NOT ESTABLISH
FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BE ABLE TO SEND DIPLOMATIC
REPRESENTATIVES TO THE U.S.?

A: YES. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS WE HAVE RECEIVED
MANY VISITS FROM OFFICIALS OF THESE GOVERNMENTS AND
HAVE CONDUCTED SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM.
THIS WILL CONTINUE DESPITE THE ABSENCE OF FULL
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS.

(IF ASKED) A PERMANENT DIPLOMATIC PRESENCE IN THE
U.S. BY THESE STATES WILL REQUIRE THE CONSENT OF
BOTH SIDES.

Q: THROUGH WHAT CHANNEL WILL YOU DO BUSINESS WITH THE
REPUBLICS WITH WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE FULL DIPLOMATIC
RELATIONS?

A: DURING A TRANSTION PERIOD, WE INTEND TO MAINTAIN
CONTACT WITH THESE GOVERNMENTS THROUGH AMBASSADOR
STRAUSS AND HIS STAFF.

WE WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE OFFICIAL VISITORS
IN WASHINGTON FROM THESE STATES.

Q: DOES THE US RECOGNIZE RUSSIA AS THE SUCCESSOR STATE
TO THE USSR?

A: RUSSIA AS WELL AS THE OTHER REFUBLICS WILL CONTINUE
THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION.
THERE ARE MANY ISSUES THAT WE WILL WANT TO CLARIFY
WITH RUSSIA AND THE OTHER REPUBLICS.

IN ANY CASE, WE ARE PREPARED TO BUILD A CONSTRUCTIVE
AND CORDIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA AND THE OTHER
REPUBLICS IN ALL AREAS.

Q: ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE ASSURANCES YOU HAVE
RECEIVED ON SECURITY MATTERS?

A: AS THE PRESIDENT SAID IN HIS CHRISTMAS ANNOUNCEMENT,
WE CONGRATULATE THE NEW STATES OF THE COMMONWEALTH
ON THE PEACEFUL AND DEMOCRATIC PATH THEY HAVE
CHOSEN, AND FOR THEIR CAREFUL ATTENTION TO NUCLEAR
CONTROL AND SAFETY DURING THIS TRANSITION.

THE PRESIDENT MENTIONED IN HIS PRESS CONFERENCE
DECEMBER 26 THAT HE HAS RECEIVED PROPER ASSURANCES
FROM YELTSIN' GORBACHEV, AND ALL THE REPUBLIC
LEADERS INVOLVED AND SEES NO REASON TO BE ANYTHING
BUT SATISFIED ON THIS POINT.

Q: WILL THE US SUPPORT CSCE MEMBERSHIP FOR THE NEW
STATES?

A: WE BELIEVE IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE CSCE
STANDARDS BE ADOPTED AND ADHERED TO THROUGHOUT THE
ENTIRE AREA OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION.

WE WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR CSCE PARTNERS TO ENSURE
THAT APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENTS ARE DEVELOPED FOR THE
PARTICIPATION OF THESE NEW STATES WHO ARE PREPARED
TO CONDUCT THEIR AFFAIRS IN FULL CONFORMANCE WITH
CSCE NORMS AND PRINCIPLES.

Q: WILL THE LEGISLATIVE RESTRICTIONS ON THE SOVIET
UNION APPLY TO THE NEW COUNTRIES? TO RUSSIA?
(FYI: THESE RESTRICTIONS INCLUDE SUCH ISSUES AS
EXIM CREDIT TO SOVIET UNION, ACQUISITION OF NEW
FACILITIES, COMPENSATION FOR EMBASSY BUGGING, USE OF

CONSULATE BUILDINGS IN NEW YORK, ETC.)

A: WE WILL NEED TO REVIEW THESE PROVISIONS ON A
CASE-BY-CASE BASIS AND, AS APPROPRIATE, CONSULT WITH
CONGRESS.

Q: THERE WERE MANY "SECURITY RELATED" RESTRICTIONS
APPLIED TO SOVIET DIPLOMATS (TRAVEL CONTROLS, LIMITS
ON NUMBER OF PERSONNEL, ETC.). WILL RUSSIA AND THE
OTHER REPUBLICS BE SUBJECT TO THESE RESTRICTIONS?

A: WE ARE EXAMINING THESE ISSUES CLOSELY AND WILL
ADDRESS THEM AS WE DEVELOP BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH
RUSSIA AND THE OTHER REPUBLICS. FOR NOW, THEY WILL
REMAIN IN EFFECT.

MIDDLE EAST PEACE TALKS
--------------

Q: WHO IS THE CO-SPONSOR OF THE MULTILATERAL MIDDLE
EAST PEACE TALKS NOW THAT THE SOVIET UNION NO LONGER
EXISTS?

A: THE CO-SPONSOR OF THE PEACE TALKS IS THE RUSSIAN
FEDERATION.

Q: WILL THE MULTILATERALS STILL BE HELD IN MOSCOW?

A: AS THE SECRETARY SAID DECEMBER 19, WE HAVE AN
AGREEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE VENUE. WE ANTICIPATE
THAT THOSE TALKS WILL TAKE PLACE THE 28TH AND 29TH
OF JANUARY IN MOSCOW.

RUSSIA IN THE UNITED NATIONS
--------------

Q: WHEN WILL THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION FORMALLY ASSUME THE
FORMER USSR'S SEATS IN THE UN, INCLUDING ON THE
SECURITY COUNCIL?

A: PRESIDENT YELTSIN'S LETTER INFORMING THE UN
SECRETARY GENERAL THAT THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE USSR IN
THE UN WILL BE CONTINUED BY THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
WAS TRANSMITTED TO THE UN SECRETARIAT ON DECEMBER

24. YELTSIN'S LETTER HAS BEEN CIRCULATED TO MEMBERS
OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AS
WELL AS TO OTHER ORGANS AND ORGANIZATIONS OF THE UN

SYSTEM. AS STATED BY THE PRESIDENT THE U.S.
SUPPORTS RUSSIA'S CONTINUATION IN THE FORMER USSR'S
UN SEATS.

AS RUSSIA WILL OCCUPY THE SEATS OF THE FORMER USSR
AS A CONTINUATION OF THE USSR, IT IS OUR VIEW THAT
NO FURTHER UN ACTION IS NECESSARY FOR RUSSIA TO
OCCUPY THOSE SEATS. CERTAIN PRACTICAL STEPS MAY BE
REQUIRED TO GIVE EFFECT WITH THESE DEVELOPMENTS IN
THE UN SYSTEM.

Q: CAN A CHALLENGE BE MADE TO RUSSIA'S ASSUMPTION OF
THE USSR'S UN SEAT?

A: THEORETICALLY, THERE COULD BE SUCH A CHALLENGE.
HOWEVER, SINCE CONTINUED MEMBERSHIP BY RUSSIA OF THE
USSR'S MEMBERSHIP IN THE UN IS SUPPORTED BY THE
STATES OF THE COMMONWEALTH, WE DO NOT EXPECT ANY
CHALLENGE.

(FYI: GENERALLY, UNDER UN PRACTICE CHALLENGES TO
THE CREDENTIALS OF A STATE ARE RESOLVED BY THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY. WE NOTE THAT THE FORTY-SIXTH
SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADJOURNED DECEMBER
20.)

Q: WILL THE UNITED STATES SUPPORT ALL THE FORMER SOVIET
REPUBLICS FOR UN MEMBERSHIP?

A: THE PRESIDENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE UNITED STATES
WILL SUPPORT UN MEMBERSHIP FOR ARMENIA, KAZAKHSTAN
AND KYRGYZSTAN. BELARUS AND UKRAINE ARE ORIGINAL
MEMBERS OF THE UN. WE LOOK FORWARD TO APPLICATIONS
FOR UN MEMBERSHIP BY THE OTHER REPUBLICS NOT
CURRENTLY MEMBERS, CONSISTENT WITH U.S. SUPPORT FOR
THE PRINCIPLE OF UNIVERSALITY OF UN MEMBERSHIP.

Q: HOW DOES A STATE BECOME A MEMBER OF THE UNITED
NATIONS?

A: ANY STATE THAT WISHES TO JOIN THE UNITED NATIONS
MUST MAKE AN APPLICATION TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL,
WHO PASSES THE APPLICATION ON TO THE SECURITY
COUNCIL. THE SECURITY COUNCIL IN TURN MUST DECIDE
WHETHER TO RECOMMEND THE STATE'S MEMBERSHIP TO THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MUST THEN
ACCEPT THE STATE FOR MEMBERSHIP BY A TWO-THIRDS
MAJORITY.

WE NOTE THAT IN ORDER TO BE ADMITTED TO THE UNITED
NATIONS AN APPLICANT MUST BE A STATE, BE
PEACE-LOVING, ACCEPT THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE CHARTER,
BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT THESE OBLIGATIONS, AND BE
WILLING TO DO SO.

Q: HOW QUICKLY CAN THE UN ACT ON AN APPLICATION FOR
MEMBERSHIP?

A: AFTER THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS RECOMMENDED A STATE
FOR MEMBERSHIP THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MUST TAKE
ACTION AT ITS NEXT SESSION.

TREATIES WITH THE FORMER USSR
--------------

Q: WILL THE REPUBLICS ABIDE BY THE TREATIES THAT THE
SOVIET UNION HAD MADE WITH THE U.S. AND OTHER
COUNTRIES, AND WILL WE CONTINUE TO ABIDE BY THOSE
TREATIES NOW THAT THE SOVIET UNION NO LONGER EXISTS?

A: WE EXPECT THE REPUBLICS TO FULFILL THE TREATY
OBLIGATIONS OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION.

THE ALMA ATA DECLARATION SIGNED DECEMBER 21 CONTAINS
A SPECIFIC STATEMENT BY THE MEMBER STATES OF THE NEW
COMMONWEALTH GUARANTEEING "FULFILLMENT OF
INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS STEMMING FROM THE TREATIES
AND AGREEMENTS OF THE FORMER USSR."

WE TOO WILL CONTINUE TO FULFILL OUR TREATY
OBLIGATIONS.

IN SOME CASES, IT WILL NOT MAKE SENSE TO HAVE EACH
REPUBLIC ASSUME THE OBLIGATIONS OF A TREATY OR
AGREEMENT. THIS WOULD BE THE CASE, FOR EXAMPLE
WHERE APPLICATION OF A TREATY TO A PARTICULAR
REPUBLIC WOULD BE INCONSISTENT WITH THE TREATY'S
"OBJECT AND PURPOSE." THUS, A TREATY OR AGREEMENT
RELATING SPECIFICALLY TO ACTIVITY IN ONLY ONE
REPUBLIC WOULD NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE OTHER
ELEVEN. WE WILL NEED TO WORK OUT DETAILS SUCH AS
THESE WITH THE NEW REPUBLICS.

END TEXT OF Q-AND-A.


3. BEGIN TEXT OF DECEMBER 25 PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT.

GOOD EVENING AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AMERICANS ACROSS
OUR GREAT COUNTRY. DURING THESE LAST FEW MONTHS, YOU AND
I HAVE WITNESSED ONE OF THE GREATEST DRAMAS OF THE 20TH
CENTURY--THE HISTORIC AND REVOLUTIONARY TRANSFORMATION OF
A TOTALITARIAN DICTATORSHIP, THE SOVET UNION, AND THE
LIBERATION OF ITS PEOPLES. AS WE CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS
THIS DAY OF PEACE AND HOPE, I THOUGHT WE SHOULD TAKE JUST
A FEW MINUTES TO REFLECT ON WHAT THESE EVENTS MEAN FOR US
AS AMERICANS.

FOR OVER 40 YEARS, THE UNITED STATES LED THE WEST IN THE
STRUGGLE AGAINST COMMUNISM AND THE THREAT IT POSED TO OUR
MOST PRECIOUS VALUES. THIS STRUGGLE SHAPED THE LIVES OF
ALL AMERICANS. IT FORCED ALL NATIONS TO LIVE UNDER THE
SPECTER OF NUCLEAR DESTRUCTION. THAT CONFRONTATION IS NOW
OVER. THE NUCLEAR THREAT, WHILE FAR FROM GONE, IS
RECEDING. EASTERN EUROPE IS FREE. THE SOVIET UNION
ITSELF IS NO MORE.

THIS IS A VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM. IT'S A
VICTORY FOR THE MORAL FORCE OF OUR VALUES. EVERY AMERICAN
CAN TAKE PRIDE IN THIS VICTORY, FROM THE MILLIONS OF MEN
AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY IN UNIFORM TO
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO SUFPORTED THEIR COUNTRY AND A
STRONG DEFENSE UNDER NINE PRESIDENTS.

NEW, INDEPENDENT NATIONS HAVE EMERGED OUT OF THE WRECKAGE
OF THE SOVIET EMPIRE. LAST WEEKEND, THESE FORMER
REPUBLICS FORMED A COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES.

THIS ACT MARKS THE END OF THE OLD SOVIET UNION, SIGNIFIED
TODAY BY MIKHAIL GORBACHEV'S DECISION TO RESIGN AS
PRESIDENT.

I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MY
GRATITUDE TO MIKHAIL GORBACHEV FOR YEARS OF SUSTAINED
COMMITMENT TO WORLD PEACE AND FOR HIS INTELLECT, VISION
AND COURAGE. I SPOKE WITH MIKHAIL GORBACHEV THIS
MORNING. WE REVIEWED THE MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE LAST
FEW YEARS AND SPOKE OF HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. MIKHAIL
GORBACHEV'S REVOLUTIONARY POLICIES TRANSFORMED THE SOVIET
UNION.

HIS POLICIES PERMITTED THE PEOPLES OF RUSSIA AND THE OTHER
REPUBLICS TO CAST ASIDE DECADES OF OPPRESSION AND
ESTABLISH THE FOUNDATIONS OF FREEDOM. HIS LEGACY
GUARANTEES HIM AN HONORED PLACE IN HISTORY AND PROVIDES A

SOLID BASIS FOR THE UNITED STATES TO WORK IN EQUALLY
CONSTRUCTIVE WAYS WITH HIS SUCCESSORS.

THE UNITED STATES APPLAUDS AND SUPPORTS THE HISTORIC
CHOICE FOR FREEDOM BY THE NEW STATES OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
WE CONGRATULATE THEM ON THE PEACEFUL AND DEMOCRATIC PATH
THEY HAVE CHOSEN, AND FOR THEIR CAREFUL ATTENTION TO
NUCLEAR CONTROL AND SAFETY DURING THIS TRANSITION.

DESPITE A POTENTIAL FOR INSTABILITY AND CHAOS, THESE
EVENTS CLEARLY SERVE OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS.

WE STAND TONIGHT BEFORE A NEW WORLD OF HOPE AND
POSSIBILITIES FOR OUR CHILDREN, A WORLD WE COULD NOT HAVE
CONTEMPLATED A FEW YEARS AGO.

THE CHALLENGE FOR US NOW IS TO ENGAGE THESE NEW STATES IN
SUSTAINING THE PEACE AND BUILDING A MORE PROSPEROUS FUTURE.

AND SO TODAY, BASED ON COMMITMENTS AND ASSURANCES GIVEN TO
US BY SOME OF THESE STATES CONCERNING NUCLEAR SAFETY,
DEMOCRACY AND FREE MARKETS, I AM ANNOUNCING SOME IMPORTANT
STEPS DESIGNED TO BEGIN THIS PROCESS.

FIRST THE UNITED STATES RECOGNIZES AND WELCOMES THE
EMERGENCY OF A FREE, INDEPENDENT AND DEMOCRATIC RUSSIA LED
BY ITS COURAGEOUS PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN. OUR EMBASSY
IN MOSCOW WILL REMAIN THERE AS OUR EMBASSY TO RUSSIA. WE
WILL SUPPORT RUSSIA'S ASSUMPTION OF THE USSR'S SEAT AS A
PERMANENT MEMBER OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH PRESIDENT YELTSIN
IN SUPPORT OF HIS EFFORTS TO BRING DEMOCRATIC AND MARKET
REFORM TO RUSSIA.

SECOND, THE UNITED STATES ALSO RECOGNIZES THE INDEPENDENCE
OF UKRAINE, ARMENIA, KAZAKHSTAN, BYELARUS AND KYRGYZSTAN,
ALL STATES THAT HAVE MADE SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS TO US. WE
WILL MOVE QUICKLY TO ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH
THESE STATES AND BUILD NEW TIES TO THEM. WE WILL SPONSOR
MEMBERSHIP IN THE UNITED NATIONS FOR THOSE NOT ALREADY
MEMBERS.

THIRD THE UNITED STATES ALSO RECOGNIZES TODAY AS
INDEPENDENT STATES THE REMAINING SIX FORMER SOVIET
REPUBLICS--MOLDOVA, TURKMENISTAN, AZERBAIJAN, TAJIKISTAN,
GEORGIA AND UZBEKISTAN. WE WILL ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC
RELATIONS WITH THEM WHEN WE ARE SATISFIED THAT THEY HAVE

MADE COMMITMENTS TO RESPONSIBLE SECURITY POLICIES AND
DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES, AS HAVE THE OTHER STATES WE
RECOGNIZED TODAY.

THESE DRAMATIC EVENTS COME AT A TIME WHEN AMERICANS ARE
ALSO FACING CHALLENGES HERE AT HOME. I KNOW THAT FOR MANY
OF YOU THESE ARE DIFFICULT TIMES, AND I WANT ALL AMERICANS
TO KNOW THAT I AM COMMITTED TO ATTACKING OUR ECONOMIC
PROBLEMS AT HOME WITH THE SAME DETERMINATION WE BROUGHT TO
WINNING THE COLD WAR. I AM CONFIDENT WE WILL MEET THIS
CHALLENGE AS WE HAVE SO MANY TIMES BEFORE, BUT WE CANNOT
IF WE RETREAT INTO ISOLATIONISM. WE WILL ONLY SUCCEED IN
THIS INTERCONNECTED WORLD BY CONTINUING TO LEAD THE FIGHT
FOR FREE PEOPLE AND FREE AND FAIR TRADE. A FREE AND
PROSPEROUS GLOBAL ECONOMY IS ESSENTIAL FOR AMERICA'S
PROSPERITY. THAT MEANS JOBS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH RIGHT
HERE AT HOME.

THIS IS A DAY OF GREAT HOPE FOR ALL AMERICANS. OUR
ENEMIES HAE BECOME OUR PARTNERS, COMMITTED TO BUILDING
DEMOCRATIC AND CIVIL SOCIETIES. THEY ASK FOR OUR SUPPORT,
AND WE WILL GIVE IT TO THEM. WE WILL DO IT BECAUSE AS
AMERICANS WE CAN DO NO LESS. FOR OUR CHILDREN. WE MUST
OFFER THEM THE GUARANTEE OF A PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS
FUTURE A FUTURE GROUNDED IN A WORLD BUILT ON STRONG
DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES, FREE FROM THE SPECTER OF GLOBAL
CONFLICT.

MAY GOD BLESS THE PEOPLE OF THE NEW NATIONS IN THE
COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES. AND, ON THIS SPECIAL
DAY OF PEACE ON EARTH, GOODWILL TOWARD MEN, MAY GOD
CONTINUE TO BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. GOOD
NIGHT.

END TEXT OF DECEMBER 25 PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT.


4. BEGIN TEXT OF PRESIDENT'S FAREWELL STATEMENT TO
GORBACHEV.

MIKHAIL GORBACHEV'S RESIGNATION AS PRESIDENT OF THE SOVIET
UNION CULMINATES A REMARKABLE ERA IN THE HISTORY OF HIS
COUNTRY AND IN ITS LONG AND OFTEN DIFFICULT RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE UNITED STATES. AS HE LEAVES OFFICE, I WOULD LIKE
TO EXPRESS PUBLICLY, AND ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,
MY GRATITUDE TO HIM FOR YEARS OF SUSTAINED COMMITMENT TO
WORLD PEACE, AND MY PERSONAL RESPECT FOR HIS INTELLECT,
VISION AND COURAGE.

PRESIDENT GORBACHEV IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS OF THIS CENTURY--THE REVOLUTIONARY
TRANSFORMATION OF A TOTALITARIAN DICTATORSHIP AND THE
LIBERATION OF HIS PEOPLE FROM ITS SMOTHERING EMBRACE. HIS
PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRATIC AND ECONOMIC REFORM
THROUGH PERESTROIKA AND GLASNOST--A COMMITMENT WHICH
DEMANDED THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF POLITICAL AND PERSONAL
INGENUITY AND COURAGE--PERMITTED THE PEOPLES OF RUSSIA AND
OTHER REPUBLICS TO CAST ASIDE DECADES OF DARK OPPRESSION
AND PUT IN PLACE THE FOUNDATIONS OF FREEDOM.

WORKING WITH PRESIDENT REAGAN, MYSELF AND OTHER ALLIED
LEADERS, PRESIDENT GORBACHEV ACTED BOLDLY AND DECISIVELY
TO END THE BITTER DIVISIONS OF THE COLD WAR AND
CONTRIBUTED TO THE REMAKING OF A EUROPE WHOLE AND FREE.
HIS AND FOREIGN MINISTER EDUARD SHEVARDNADZE'S "NEW
THINKING" IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS PERMITTED THE UNITED STATES
AND THE SOVIET UNION TO MOVE FROM CONFRONTATION TO
PARTNERSHIP IN THE SEARCH FOR PEACE ACROSS THE GLOBE.
TOGETHER WE NEGOTIATED HISTORIC REDUCTIONS IN CHEMICAL,
NUCLEAR AND CONVENTIONAL FORCES AND REDUCED THE RISK OF A
NUCLEAR CONFLICT.

WORKING TOGETHER, WE HELPED THE PEOPLE OF EASTERN EUROPE
WIN THEIR LIBERTY AND THE GERMAN PEOPLE THEIR GOAL OF
UNITY IN PEACE AND FREEDOM. OUR PARTNERSHIP LED TO
UNPRECEDENTED COOPERATION IN REPELLING IRAQI AGGRESSION IN
KUWAIT, IN BRINGING PEACE TO NICARAGUA AND CAMBODIA AND
INDEPENDENCE TO NAMIBIA. AND OUR WORK CONTINUES AS WE
SEEK A LASTING AND JUST PEACE BETWEEN ISRAELIS AND ARABS
IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND AN END TO THE CONFLICT IN
AFGHANISTAN.

PRESIDENT GORBACHEV'S PARTICIPATION IN THESE HISTORIC
EVENTS IS HIS LEGACY TO HIS COUNTRY AND TO THE WORLD.
THIS RECORD ASSURES HIM AN HONORED PLACE IN HISTORY AND,
MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR THE FUTURE, ESTABLISHES A SOLID BASIS
FROM WHICH THE UNITED STATES AND THE WEST CAN WORK IN
EQUALLY CONSTRUCTIVE WAYS WITH HIS SUCCESSORS.

END TEXT OF PRESIDENT'S FAREWELL STATEMENT TO GORBACHEV.

KANTER