POLAND

Created: 12/2/1980

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

SITUATION REPORTS

POLAND

The recent increaae in the level ofacme -jiiionziKu.esoviet urdza near Poland. Air activity by Soviet and East European units may signal theof an air defense exercise. (TAmbov**

A low-strength Soviet motorized rifle divisionin the Baltic Military District has bean mobilizing since last Thursday. ncluded larger-than-normal numbers of cargotrucTspreserit and apparent loading of equipment onto railcars. eSst

Soviet tactical aviation units in Poland, as well as Polish and East German air units resumed flight activity

resumption may be relatesoviet Ger.eral'staff air

defense exercise, which may begin today when the airspace over East Germany__is_ to be closed to normal air traffic for one hour.

Moscow has announced the arrival of SovietUstinov in Bucharesteeting withPact defense ministers. Yesterday apparentlyto welcoming ceremonies and setting thesession today reportedly will focus on suchdefense budgets and training schedules, but thewill undoubtedly also discuss the Polish situation. participants probably will meet with RomanianCeausescu briefly before departing for:home

Soviet Commentary ,*

The Soviets are still giving ambiguous public signals on their intentions toward Poland, possibly to avoidthemselves to any one course until they know the' results of the Central Committee meeting in Warsaw. A V'

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striking example is the manner in which TASS on Saturdayecent Aide Pravo"attack on the Poles, editing out the most pointed remarks in the original. 4mmV

Meanwhile, P. K. Kostikov evidently has beenfrom his post as head of the Polish desk at the Central Committee's department for liaison with othercommunist parties. Kostikov had been the topin Moscow dealing with Polish affairsay-to-day basis eB^BBmmm*-

Kostikov reportedly served as an interpreterPolish party leader Gierek's meeting in thePresident Brezhnev this summer and presumablya prominent role in Moscow's handling of thesince then. Bis demotion probably resultedover the advice he has been givingleadership, but It is not clear whetherarder Soviet line toward Poland.

Kania Central Committee Speech

Party leader Kania's opening speech to the Central Committee plenum yesterday, presented as the views of the entire Politburo, indicates that the moderates within the party leadership are still in control. Kania renewed his pledge for greater democracy within the party, talkedprofound transformation" in the way the party will exercise its leading role in the future, and called for broader participation in the politicalecriticized the "conservative" resistance to change and said there could ba no return to the old ways of doing things. Bse*

Kania also stated that, on the basis of his talks with Solidarity representatives, he saw "realisticfor finding solutions to difficult problems and demonstrated an understanding for workers' attempts to redress longstanding grievances even through strikes. Heharp line, however, at strikes that hadobjectives. He criticized "certain" people and organizations in Solidarity for overstepping the bounds of trade union activity but said that the overwhelming majority of Solidarity members and activists had nothing in common with' "this dangerous trend."

Kania alsoignificant portion of his speech to internal party problems, balancing his criticism of "conservatives'* within the party whoL understand th* new situation with criticism of th* core liberalwho would be prone to ideological capitulation. He indicatedumber of proposals will be considered for changing the way party officials are elected and how they will carry out their responsibilities. Kaniahowever, against rash changes based merely on an emotional rejoction of past practices. 4bs*S*

He said that the ninth congress of the party will be held ivoae time next Harch or April. This data isa compromise between the groups pressing for quick changes and conservatives who hoped to postpone theas long as possible. pecial commission has been appointed to workew program and changes in the party statutes by the end of January. ^ffX>

Kania also said the Polish leadership "wellthe anxiety felt by its allies for developments in Poland. Be went on to express gratitude particularly to Soviet leaders for their trust in the Polish party and for their conviction that th* Poles will be able toay out of their crisis that will be in theof socialism in Poland and of the entire socialist He also thanked his allies, in particular th* iviet Dnion and East Germany, for economic assistance-

Soviet Aid

*

Polish radio today claimed that the USSR1 billion in hard currency and aboutin goods next year. We have no otherconfirm the claim nor do we know the terms. Theon cash aid seeas plausible, however, as thecurrently in an excellent financial position butshort of many goods. The "shopping list"provided by Moscow included no food items,of the most troublesome shortages in Poland, andsources indicate that Warsaw is seeking foodEC. This announcement will be interpreted byas an explicit signal of continued Sovietparty leader Kania.

Original document.

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