Discussion on Soviet nationalities policy by Yuri Reshetnikov, host on “The Soviet Union Looking to the Third Millennium” internationally broadcast program, with August Voss of Latvia
[Excerpts] [Reshetnikov] At the turn of the year, 30th December marked 64 years since four Soviet republics joined in a union to form what is now the USSR, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. [Passage omitted containing historical background] The motley fabric of the union when it was formed did not, however, make for any easy solution of the nationalities problem.
[…]
The USSR is kind of mosaic of nations, sharing common political and social attitudes. In a country with one large ethnic group, such as the Russians, who make up the majority of the population, it would be natural to expect other minority groups to be swamped culturally, to except the country to be something of a melting pot. But this has not been the case in the Soviet Union, explains Avgust Voss, the chairman of the Nationalities Chamber of the USSR parliament- -he himself is a delegate from the republic of Latvia, one of the 15 constituent republics.
[…]
[Reshetnikov] Like any multinational country, however, the Soviet Union is not immune to problems of nationalism. As the Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev noted, our achievements should not created the impression that there are no problems in this field because a tendency towards national isolation and local interests still persist and makes itself felt quite painfully at times. A case in point was the recent nationalistic outburst in the Kazakh capital of Alma-Ata where rampaging youths, goaded by nationalistic elements, caused a minor disruption of public order.
[…]
If there is one lesson to be drawn from the events in Alma-Ata it is that while some problems in ethnic relations are solved others may emerge. This is true of any multinational country’s development, all the more so with regard to national relations among people who were for centuries divided by deep cultural and religious rifts.
[Moscow Radio eight language broadcast, January 2, 1987]
The Karabagh File, Documents and Facts, 1918-1988, First Edition, Cambridge Toronto 1988, by the ZORYAN INSTITUTE, edited by: Gerard J. LIBARIDIAN, p. 62
