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Article: The Soviet rim. (secession movements and ethnic unrest in Soviet Union)
- Article from:
- National Review
- Article date:
- February 5, 1990
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1990 National Review, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The Soviet Rim
WE HAVE BECOME accustomed to odd sights appearing on the television transmissions from Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, but the spectable of the president of the Soviet Union arguing--arguing!--with Lithuanians about the prudence of secession from the USSR was a particularly jolting one. Fantastically and unexpectedly, the Soviets have apparently decided that they would turn Eastern Europe free from Communist rule; now, it appears, they may be willing to let some of the republics of the Soviet Union itself secede. Its an exhilarating prospect, but two notes of caution are in order. First, there is no guarantee that this will happen peacefully, ...