Word: ek
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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...Alexander Dubček, it seemed to be a somewhat more pleasant journey to Moscow than his last one-when he went as a virtual prisoner of Soviet commanders who had invaded his country a few days earlier. Instead of being whisked secretly onto an airplane, Dubček last week chatted amiably in the Prague airport lounge with a group of his Czechoslovak colleagues. They had come to see Dubček, Premier Oldřich Cerník and Deputy Premier Gustav Husák off for another round of talks in the Kremlin. But throughout the pleasantries...
Though the Moscow meeting had been twice postponed by disagreement on the agenda, both sides had ample reason for wanting to hold it. In return for rolling back much of the liberalization of his early regime, Dubček is anxious for Russia to begin withdrawing most of the 275,000 Warsaw Pact troops still encamped on Czechoslovak soil. The Kremlin, on the other hand, is far from pleased with the pace of what the Russians call the "normalization" of Czechoslovak life. In particular, they resent the halfhearted censorship that permits most Czechoslovak news media to continue making subtle gibes...
...Commentary. The meetings were reportedly working sessions aimed at reaching practical agreements. From the tone of the communique issued when they ended, it would seem that it was the Russians who got most of the work done. Dubček not only pledged once again to place Czechoslovakia's press in "the service of socialism," but also gave preliminary approval to the "temporary stationing" of Warsaw Pact troops throughout his country-a concession that would legalize an indefinite occupation. Though Czechoslovak leaders have privately pledged that "no one will be arrested here for his political beliefs," the agreement also...
...factor that may work in Dubček's favor developed last week in Budapest, where Soviet party leaders reluctantly agreed to postpone the worldwide Communist Party conference scheduled for next month. The reason was all too obvious: Moscow's treatment of Czechoslovakia had infuriated a large number of the prospective delegates. Only last spring, Soviet delegates had enough clout in Budapest to win approval of the summit. Now, led by the Italians, Dubček sympathizers threatened to put Moscow on trial at the summit-and the Kremlin was not ready to submit to that...
Islands of Emptiness. The Kremlin spewed out its displeasure with the uncooperative Czechoslovaks in a Tass report that accused "people in high party positions" of deliberately "sabotaging 'the Moscow agreements." Dubček himself may well be at the top of the list. It has not escaped the Russians that he has managed to countervail the loss of many a reformer by sacking a pro-Moscow counterpart (last week's swap: Hájek for Communications Minister Karel Hoffman, who compliantly ordered radio and TV to go off the air shortly after the invasion began...