VOL.101,NO.7
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
KANSAS STATE HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
TOPEKA KS 66612
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 3,1991
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NEWS:864-4810
Bush recognizes Baltics
President says he will continue to work with weaker Gorbachev
The Associated Press
KENNETHBUNKPORT, Maine — President Bush, after choreographing his move with Mikhail Gorbachev, yesterday formally recognized the independence of the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, which were seized by the Soviet Union a half century ago.
Bush said his decision did not signify that the United States would necessarily recognize other republics that break away from the Soviet Union. He would look at each declaration of independence on a case by case basis.
Bush expressed hope that a central government would survive as "a strong partner, a convincing partner to deal with" on matters such as foreign policy and arms control.
Although Gorbachev has lost much of his power, Bush said he would continue to deal with the Soviet president "with respect and with a certain degree of recognition that we look at some of these problems, foreign policy problems, eve to eye."
Bush announced recognition of the Baltic states at a Labor Day news conference on the final day of his 29-day vacation at his oceanfront estate. "We've had a good rest up here," said Bush, looking tanned and relaxed while complaining about not catching any fish.
The president hailed news from Moscow that Gorbachev and the leaders of 10 Soviet republics had decided to replace the current president with a new one, giving it far more power to the republics.
"This is a watershed in Soviet political thinking, equal to the dramatic movements toward democracy and market economies under democratic rule in the republics themselves," Bush said.
Reactions to announcement vary
His move drew mixed reactions at home. Pastor Vilis Varsberg, president of Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in Chicago, said many parishioners reacted mildly to the news, saying recognition should have come sooner.
"We feel great but it's sort of anticlimac
tic," said Varsberg, whose church has some 250,000 members in North and South America. "Why should the U.S. be the last one to do it? After everyone else, Bush follows suit after every one else."
Lalita Muizinez, director of Latvian studies at Western Michigan University, said, "Chills were running down the spines of Latvians all over the world when the coup began Aug. 18. I would say that Latvians by nature are more tolerant than us and we have years of oppression, with people telling them what to do and when to do it, they'll start again and do very well."
Decision comes late, surprises few
The establishment of diplomatic relations with the Baltics was no surprise because the United States has made clear for a week that it would do so.
An administration official said Bush decided to recognize the Baltics' freedom last Tuesday after meeting with foreign policy adviser Serh Tsurstra, his new ambassador to Moscow.
However, the delay in announcing U.S. recognition became something of a mystery as the United States stayed on the sidelines while dozens of other countries acted.
Bush sent a cable to Gorbachev Aug. 27 alerting him of the impending announcement but expressing hope that the Soviet Union would act on its own first to grant independence. Yet, the cable said in effect that time was running out and the United States would act by Friday, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
On Friday, a member of Gorbachev's personal staff called the White House and pleaded for more delay. The aide told Ehwitt, "I'm sorry about it. I needed Security staff, that they needed more time."
"The (Soviet) Parliament had not acted, President Gorbachev was still considering the situation, could they have more time before we announced," the official said.
After checking with Bush, Hewitt called back and said the president would wait until Monday. On Sunday, Bush received a cable from Trump about his support throughout the Soviet crises and
saving that things were under control.
But Gorbachev's message made no mention of the Baltics or their independence.
"So we went ahead with today's recognition," the official said.
Gorbachev, however, did indicate in a Sunday interview on Cable News Network that the Baltic states were free to leave the union if they wished.
In delaying action, Bush had hoped that Soviet authorities would clear up disputes on over the Baltics' boundaries and border security as well as political issues.
Baltic states annexed by secret pact
"Those concerns are all still there," the official said. "The president just felt that at this point we'd given them every opportunity to make a positive difference and we will have to deal with these."
The Baltic states were annexed in 1940 by the Soviet Union as a result of a secret Stalin-Hitler pact on the eve of World War II. The United States never recognized their incorporation into the Soviet Union.
Because of that, Bush said the recognition of the Baltics was unique and did not amount to a precedent for other republics that separate from the Soviet Union.
"We've got to know first what kind of relationship these republics want to have with the center before we can jump way ahead and say what we're going to do in each case," Bush said.
The president spoke warmly of Gorbachev, saying "The fact that I think he's done an awful lot for the world is out there for all to see." Bush also welcomed a statement by Russian President Boris Yeltsin that his republic would not send aid to Cuba.
"We'd like to hear the center say the same thing," Bush said. "There are some very important questions that transcend internal events in the Soviet Union as far as we're concerned — Afghanistan, Cuba, the Middle East. I think there's go to be some government with which the United States works on many questions."
-George Bush
Congresswoman Myers among first U.S. visitors
By William Ramsey
Kansan staff writer
Congresswoman Jan Meyers, R-Kan, left today with one of the first U.S. delegations to visit the Baltic states since they were recognized as independent republics yesterday by
The delegation will travel to the countries of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and the republics of Armenia and Georgia.
Jessy Jacobs, staff assistant for the commission, said the trip was a fact-finding mis
Formerly known as the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Helsinki Commission was established in 1975 and has strengthened its mediate military security issues.
Meyers, who is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, was invited on the trip by the leaders of the Helsinki Commission.
The Helsinki Commission's trip, which was planned before the failed coup attempt two weeks ago in the Soviet Union, will now include meetings with the leaders of the Republic of Georgia, a president of the Republic of Georgia, said Brian Gaston, representative for Meyers.
sion for the group.
"I believe there are still some human rights concerns," Jacobs said.
The commission intends to help continue the movements toward democracy and human rights, he said.
The nine senators, nine representatives and three cabinet officials who make up the delegation will attend the opening session of the 138th Session of the United Nations Conference on the Human Dimension.
Jacobs said the conference would analyze the steps that have been taken to improve human rights conditions.
"I think that the U.S. Congress has been a little bit more in the forefront in recognizing the needs of the Baltic peoples," he said.
The Heliskini delegation's plans originally included talks with members of the Supreme Soviet, the Soviet Union's legislative body, which has disbanded.
In the wake of the current crisis, their itinerary now includes a meeting tomorrow in Vienna, Austria; talks with Baltic leaders for the following two days; weekend trips to the republics of Georgia and Armenia and a final two days in Moscow.
Julie Jacobson/KANSAN
No class
Some KU students used their Day Day holidays yesterday to enjoy the sun on one of the last days of summer. Amy LaRue, Topeka freshman (above), swings from a tree into Lone Star Lake. LaRue and some friends were taking turns on the ranch to ascend the humid weather.
Richard Gunn, Overland Park sophomore (left), hustles to return a volleyball set by Randy Marban, St. Louis freshman. Residents of Elsworth Hall's ninth floor have taken advantage of the volleyball court adjacent to the hall during the past couple of days, rain or shine.
Mark Rowlands/KANSAN
Coalition to request that Fulcher resign
By Rochelle Olson
Kansan staff writer
A coalition of campus women's groups met Friday evening and agreed to sign a joint statement requesting Darren Fulcher's resignation as student body president.
About 60 KU students, faculty and staff members from the Women's Student Union, Students Against Violence Against Womyn and Men, a group meeting the four-hour meeting in the Walnut Room of the Kansas Union.
Connie Burk, facilitator for the Women's Student Union, said that it was the consensus of everyone at work to ask for Fulcher's resignation
She said that the coalition would present the statement asking for Fulcher's resignation at a special Student Senate meeting that Fulcher has called for 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in the Walnut Room of the Kansas Union.
Fulcher was charged with battering his ex-girlfriend, who is a KU student, during a domestic dispute in February, according to Lawrence police reports.
The preamble to the coalition's statement said that tolerating Fulcher's presidency would mean tolerating domestic violence.
The statement also said that Fulcher had committed a hate crime against women, misrepresenting itself and forfeited his credibility.
"He violated our trust," the statement said.
The coalition wants to diffuse any problems that might occur between the groups because of the statement asking for Fulcher's help.
In addition, the coalitions agreed to attempt to arrange a meeting between coalition members and leaders of Black Men of Today. Black Student Union and American women's organization.
Some members of the African American student groups have backed Fulcher since the battery
was publicized.
She said that it was important to educate the campus and let them know that any form of violence against women would not be tolerated.
Officials from both the coalition and the groups said last night that the meeting still was in the planning stages. They may meet this afternoon. Burk said.
"I think that we a coalition can make a pretty strong voice in the campus community and let people feel about this issue," she said.
Jodi Darst, a member of the Women's Concerns Committee of Gay and Lesbian Services of Kansas, said she thought a strong coalition had been formed Friday.
Jeanette Bonjour, Lawrence graduate student, said that Friday's meeting helped her clarify her views about Pulcher.
She said that when the issue of Fulcher not disclosing his actions was raised, it cleared up any doubts in her mind. She knew what had to be done.
"Not asking him to resign is as good as condoning his action," she said. "Everyone has come to the agreement that if we don't ask him to resign, we are letting everyone down."
Stephanie Wilcox, a member of Students Against Violence Against Womyn. agreed.
"The meeting was important because people got to express their views and know that more than just a few of us thought Darren should step down," Wilcox said.
She said she thought that Fulcher withheld the information about the battery for the benefit of campaign and that it bothered her.
"He battered a woman and then passed himself off as a women's rights advocate. "Wilcox said.