European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 30, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday september 30, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 9gorbachev converting 550 Plant armament factories to become civilian Moscow apr president Mikhail Gorbachev struggling to maintain Central control Over soviet political and economic life plans to transform 550 armament factories to civilian production his spokesman said Friday. Gorbachev and top aides met to Complete the conversion plan As representatives of nine soviet republics agreed to bypass Central authorities in working out a new system of economic and political cooperation. The supreme soviet parliament has been unable to pass a cohesive Reform plan and on monday it granted Gorbachev extraordinary Powers to transform the National Economy from a planned to a Market system. Representatives of nine of the 15 soviet republics and the mayor of Leningrad dissatisfied with Gorbachev a reforms met in the estonian capital of Tallinn and signed a protocol establishing an economic consultative committee to coordinate their own shift to a Market Economy. Another group of reformers led by Moscow mayor Gavriil Popov held a news conference in the capital to express concern about the Powers granted to Gorbachev. They said in a statement they also feared a the dangerous situation created by the capitulation of the president to conservative forces the worsening of relations Between the Center and the republics especially Russia a which is taking the Lead in the Reform drive. The Radical Moscow group of deputies and inter regional group of deputies consisting of reformists in the National russian and Moscow City Legislatures also appealed for creation of a parallel body to the official parliament As a Means of hastening political reforms. The communist party newspaper pravda on Friday condemned such Calls accusing the Reform group of seeking a the elimination of cps communist party of the soviet Union from the political  Popov and other radicals left the party last july. The pravda article rekindled rumours that the military was planning a takeover to restore order. Last week however defense minister Dmitri Yazoo denied such rumours. The measures Quot Are designed to stabilize the situation and move to a Market Economy As soon As  a Vitaly Ignatenko Gorbachev a plan to shift hundreds of defense plants to civilian production appeared designed to quell fears of a military resurgence and to assure people the Central government was acting to meet consumer demands. Presidential spokesman Vitaly Ignatenko told reporters that Gorbachev was meeting late Friday with members of the advisory presidential Council to Cement plans to shift arms plants to the production of processed Rood Medicine electronics and other goods desperately needed in the faltering soviet Economy. The 550 factories would produce 270 billion rubles or $472.5 billion Worth of goods for civilian use from 1990 through 1995, twice the level As during the previous five year period Ignatenko told a briefing. On thursday Gorbachev issued his first decree under the enhanced Powers threatening businesses with fines if they did not fulfil Supply contracts to government retailers. Ignatenko denied that ordering businesses to meet contracts contradicted Gorbachev a stated intent of transforming the nation. The measures Ignatenko said a Are designed to stabilize the situation and move to a Market Economy As soon As possible. They do not mean that or. Gorbachev has rejected his own  Gorbachev a meeting in the Kremlin with the chair Man of the general electric corp., Jack Welch a acknowledged that a the soviet Union is living through a dramatic Tough but creative  a the soviet people understand the need to radicalize the economic Reform revitalize finances change the forms and types of property ownership and move to Market mechanisms a the state news Agency Tass quoted Gorbachev As telling Welch. Representatives of nine soviet republics met in Tallinn to find a Way to Speed the reforms. All but two soviet republics including the russian federation have declared some form of sovereignty from Central authorities since last March and the three Baltic republics have said they will not sign a new Union treaty that Gorbachev is preparing to unite the republics into a Loose confederation. The protocol affirmed the right of the republics to Chart their own political and economic course. But it echoed one aspect of the decree Gorbachev issued thursday directing republics to a maintain existing economic tics for the period of transition to the  taking part in the meeting were officials from Russia the largest and wealthiest Republic the three Baltic republics of Lithuania Latvia and Estonia and Armenia Kirghizia byelorussian Moldavia and Tad Histan reported Tass and the estonian news Agency. Leningrad mayor Anatoly Sobchak also attended the reports said. Leningrad is the second largest soviet City. The protocol signed Friday expressed support for efforts by the republics to negotiate bilateral economic political and cultural treaties bypassing the Central government. Tass also reported that talks Between estonian and soviet officials suspended earlier this month resumed in Moscow. The talks broke off on sept. 6 after the soviet Side announced it had no authority to engage in  the estonians accused the soviets of a a unprofessional conduct since both sides had signed a protocol agreeing to negotiations on their political and economic  bloc Reform like revolution Saint tells Uso by Peggy Davidson Kaiserslautern Bureau Baum older West Germany the Swift faced political changes in Europe during the past year ave turned the world a right Side up a the Usa eur commander said at the 10th anniversary Celebration of the Baum older Uso. Likening the changes toward Freedom in East Germany to the american revolution Gen. Crostic e. Saint said that when Cornwallis surrendered his English army at York town his band played a Melody called a the world turned upside  a for those of us living in Central Europe the world has not turned upside Down. To some of us it looks like the world has turned right Side up a he said. But Saint cautioned his audience of americans Saint and germans that they must still be wary. The politics in Europe the . Budget and events in the Middle East All play a part in usage urn a upcoming troop cuts he said. When the troop cuts arc made Usa eur must a do it based on what the soviets do not what the soviets say a he said. A a you never know about those Fellows never  the general said that there is a no doubt that the soviet threat is  but he noted that the soviet Union still has the largest army on the continent. Addressing the presence of troops in saudi Arabia Saint said that a the actions of Saddam Hussein underscore. Why the free world must support Kuwait. Saint concluded that the impending troop cuts German Unity the successful end of the cold War and the United states continued presence in the persian Gulf Region arc aided by the Strong ties of Friendship Between . Troops in Europe Ana their West German and other nato allies. A a we be come too far in the last 40 years to screw it up a he said. A High time Joe Coccio a Borough worker in Pottstown pa., bal changing the clock face on the Tower of the transfigur ances atop a Ore department ladder Friday while ration lutheran Church