Power and Purpose: The Search for Consensus

Former Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze delivered the opening address of the 75th anniversary conference of the Brookings Institution, a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank on public policy issues. In his speech, Mr. Shevardnadze spoke through a translator on the changes occurring in the Soviet Union. In his remarks, Mr. Shevardnadze called for the continuation of U.S. agricultural credits to the Soviet Union. The Bush administration is considering whether to approve $1.5 billion in loans to the Soviet Union for the purchase of U.S. grain. The Soviet Union is nearing the end of $1 billion in loans guaranteed by the Commodity Credit Corporation in December, 1990. Mr. Shevardnadze said the decision concerning the credits could determine the future of the Soviet Union’s reform and democratic movements. Opponents question the reliability of the Soviet Union to repay the loans, and want a guarantee of the continuation of democratic reform before the granting of the credits. Mr. She close