3 - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, January 27, 1994

RELATIVITY SPEAKING

Yeltsin's economic policy comes
under fire from former fiscal chief

MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's out-
going finance minister denounced
President Boris Yeltsin's government
yesterday as "red managers" who
could provoke economic collapse and
social unrest by reviving a Soviet-
style economy.
Boris Fyodorov rejected Yeltsin's
offer that he stay on as finance minis-
ter in a Cabinet now dominated by
former industrial bosses, central plan-
ners and collective farm directors.
Fyodorov said the new Cabinet's
policies were "leading to a dead end
at the expense of the people's pocket.
The threat of a social explosion is
moving from the sphere of theory into
the sphere of reality."
His departure strengthened the
hand of Prime Minister Viktor
Chernomyrdin, who has pledged mas-
sive subsidies for agriculture and
called for big investments in industry.
"Boris Nikolayevich, the country

has had an economic coup, a turn
back. Ouronly hope is you!"Fyodorov
said in an impassioned statement is-
sued after meeting with Yeltsin at the
Kremlin.
Yeltsin has gone along with the
growing influence of Chernomyrdin,
a former head of the Soviet natural
gas industry.
Chernomyrdin successfully pro-
tected Central Bank Chair Viktor
Gerashchenko and Deputy Prime
Minister Alexander Zaveryukha, who
Fyodorov blames for inflationary gov-
ernment subsidies to inefficient state
farms and factories. Fyodorov had
demanded their removal and asked to
be named a deputy prime minister so
he would not be outranked by
Zaveryukha.
Yeltsin named Fyodorov's deputy,
Sergei Dubinin, acting finance minis-
ter. The Interfax news agency quoted
Fyodorov as saying his successor

wasn't a fighter.
Fyodorov was respected by West-
ern bankers and considered the most
important reformer left in the govern-
ment. He remains a deputy in the
lower house of parliament.
Fyodorov said he could not accept*
the domination "of the lifeless and
illiterate ideology" of "red economic
managers, which in a market economy
inevitably dooms the country to col-
lapse, and the people to a fall in living
standards."
He said Russia now faces soaring
inflation, a dollar exchange rate of
more than 10,000 rubles, devaluation
of savings, shortages, increasing capi-M
tal flight and isolation from world
markets.
Even though reformers fared badly
in the election, Yeltsin vowed to hold
firm to the reform course. In fact he
has retreated, giving Chernomyrdin a
greater say in economic planning.

vilT science and writing Prof. Alan Lightman reads from his new book "Einstein's Dreams" last night at Borders.

Mexican president,
MEXICO CITY (AP) - Presi- Manuel Camacho Solis, sen
lent Carlos Salinas de Gortari flew to a statement saying "the p
Chiapas on Tuesday for his first visit for dialogue continue to n
;ince the New Year's uprising by Salinas went to Tuxtla
ndian guerrillas and vowed "a new capital of Chiapas, more thz
;tage" of development for the impov- west of the conflict zone,t
;rished southern state. demands of representative
The rebels issued a series of bulle- Indian groups.
-ins promising not to disrupt the 1994 "We want peace, but nc
presidential election, suggesting top- to the situation of befor
ics for peace talks and offering to told them. He promised
exchange a captive former governor health services, more aid
or the army's prisoners. farmers, a fund for the upri;
The government negotiator, ows and orphans, better f

rebels move toward post-uprising reconciliation

nt the rebels
ossibilities
ear."
Gutierrez,
an 30 miles
to hear the
s from 280
ot to return
e," Salinas
improved
d to coffee
sing's wid-
ood supply

in war-affected areas and more atten-
tion to Indian grievances.
He also met with Gov. Javier
Lopez Moreno, elected by the state
legislature last week to replace Elmar
Setzer, who quit over the uprising.
The Indian organizations had in-
vited Salinas to visit the region and
hear the complaints of groups that did
not join the rebel Zapatista National
Liberation Army but support many of
its social demands.
The Zapatistas continued to move
toward peace talks with the govern-

ment in a series of communiques pub-
lished Tuesday by the Mexico City
newspapers La Jornada and El
Financiero.
"If we find a dignified peace, we
will follow the path of dignified
peace," wrote the rebel spokesper-
son, Subcomandante Marcos.
"We will not take the country hos-
tage," he added. "We do not want nor
are we able to impose our idea on
Mexican society by the force of our
arms. ... We will not impede the up-
coming electoral process," he said.

"If we had not taken up our rifles,
the government never would have
worried about the Indians of our lands
and we would have continued in ne-
glect and poverty," said one of the
communiques.
They suggested an agenda for
peace talks that would focus on the
economic, social and political suffer-
ing of Indians in Chiapas.
The rebels said the army appeared
to be holding to acease-fire announced
by Salinas on Jan. 12.
The communiques were dated Jan.

(U
tc
N
0~
o Iw

L you hLidala
C
01
C
N

ALL
PUR
2f

20.
The rebels offered to trade former
Gov. Absalon Castellanos, who was
captured Jan. 1, for Zapatista fighters
and civilians held by the army. They
said Castellanos was their only cap-
tive.
The rebels balked at demands that
they lay down their arms and identify
their leaders, and called on other Mex4
can groups to unite in demands foT
"liberty, democracy and justice." They
said they were not demanding that all
follow an armed struggle.
Prince
Charles "
stays cool
under fire
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -
Britain's Prince Charles, eager to
boost his image after the breakup of
his marriage to Princess Diana, has
proved one thing: he can stay cool
under fire.
The 45-year-old heir to the throne
hardly flinched yesterday when a
young man ran out of a crowd, lunged
at him and fired two blank shots from
a starter's pistol during an outdoor
ceremony marking Australia's na-
tional day.
The prince saw the man run to-
ward him and froze momentarily as
the shots rang out. Afterward, he
calmly adjusted his cuff links.
Within minutes of his assailant's
arrest, Charles carried on with his
speech. He joked with the crowd, and
later assured guests at a cocktail party
that he was fine.
"He played it cool. He wants ev-
eryone to know he is OK," said Sydney0
Lord Mayor Frank Sartor.
Others on stage were knocked from
their seats in the commotion.
Police said the assailant, 23-year-
old university student David Kang,
wrote Prince Charles last month to
complain about Australia's treatment
of several hundred Cambodian boat
people held in detention camps.
The prince's staff had written back
that Charles could not become in-
volved in the matter.
Kang was jailed and charged un-
der a federal law to protect interna-
tional VIPs. If convicted, he could be
imprisoned for a maximum of 20
years.
He is scheduled to appear in court
early today.

w -

-- -

0

, .
..... .,

A

..-.-

-00

S - -o

r

r-

IEY
WEST!

01

DIAL ~ iINSIA

For Reservations,
call 1-860-695-5150
or 1-305-294- 3773
Newsletters

E