New leader assembles his team

Press, 18 February 1983, Page 8

New leader assembles his team

By RICHARD OWEN of “The Times" (through NZPA) Moscow

As Yuri Andropov approaches the end of his first 100 days in power, he • can reflect that whatever the hazards of arms control and economic policy, he has the makings of his own team to work with.

The reshuffles in party and Government have been gradual and unobtrusive since Mr Andropov took over in November, but they have been purposeful and wideranging. He wants his own men. it is said, to help him hack his way ‘through the jungle ol Soviet inertia and mismanagement. Chief among them is General Vitaly Fedorchuk, who in December moved from the K.G.B. to become Interior Minister. Also up front is General Viktor Chebrinov, who succeeded General Fedorchuk.

Both men are long-time associates of Mr Andropov, and between them have firm control of the police, the judicial apparatus, and the security services. Added to the Armed Forces under Marshal Dimi-*-i Ustinov thev give Mr

Andropov a formidable power base. Appointments usually entail dismissals or demotions, and Mr Andropov has used these and other changes to purge the apparatus of those who are either too old or too identified with the previous leadership. or both.

Nikolai Shcholokov, the ousted 72-year-old Interior Minister, was one of the more prominent Brezhnev men among Mr Andropov’s victims.

Another senior casualty

was Andrei Kirilenko, aged 75, another close friend of the former leader's. His place on the Politburo went to Geidar Aliyev, who has been quietly but effectively helping Mr Andropov to crack down on “corruption” and “profiteering” by illegal entrepreneurs from the south, including Mr Aliyev’s native republic of Azerbaijan Not all of the purged Brezhnev men were obvious candidates for retirement Valentin Makeyev, a Brezh nev protege, has lost his job

as Deputy Prime Minister at the age of 52. Conversely, some officials have been eased out because they had stayed too long in the same job. rather than because of their loyalties. Sergei Pavlov had been at the top of Soviet Olympic sports for nearly 15 years before his downfall last month.

Some of those appointed can hardly be described as new brooms, on the other hand. Lev Tolkunov, the new editor of “Izvestiya”. ran the paper from 1965 to 1976 before becoming head of the Novosti Press Agency. He has appointed a new propaganda chief, Boris Stukalin, aged 49.

Most of the new appointments have to do with the new leader’s economic strategy. Alexander Struyev. aged 76. last month left the Trade Ministry after 17 years, elbowed out by the head of the Budget Commission, Grigory Vashchenko, aged 63.

In other areas officials have been reprimanded but not yet removed, giving rise to an atmosphere in which nearlx all long-serving middie-ranking managers

are wondering if it is their turn next.

A shake-up in the textile industry caused widespread ripples,' since it exposed theft and- waste, universal sins in the Soviet system.

The general assumption is that gentle though the purge has been, Mr Andropov has only started

The problems will come when the new team tries to tackle the economic crisis in earnest, and when the "fresh ideas" come up against the old ways.