Word: kampuchea
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...Solidarity signed sweeping agreements to legalize the long-banned independent trade union and to allow Poland's first partly democratic elections since 1948. In Phnom Penh, Soviet client Viet Nam announced that it would end its occupation and withdraw all its troops, estimated at some 60,000, from Kampuchea by the end of September. That opened the door to a broad rapprochement between the U.S.S.R. and China, which had bitterly resisted the Vietnamese encroachment. Beijing made the Vietnamese pullout one of three conditions for making up with Moscow (the others: an end to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and resolution...
Neither in Poland nor in Kampuchea could these dramatic reversals have been made without the sponsorship of Gorbachev. They follow a string of precedents set by the Soviet Union: its first contested elections in 71 years; withdrawal from Afghanistan; constructive mediation in southern Africa; offers of significant cuts in the Warsaw Pact's conventional-force structure in Europe; and even, despite reports of an unwelcome sale of jet bombers to Libya, suggestions of a generally more helpful approach to the Middle East...
Half a world away, equally momentous but even more uncertain changes were coming to Kampuchea. More than a decade ago, with the U.S.S.R.'s blessing, Viet Nam invaded its next-door neighbor. Hanoi may eventually have tired of the unending war, which has cost it 50,000 casualties. But in the past few years, Gorbachev has had compelling reasons to withdraw Moscow's support...
...last week the Vietnamese announced their retreat, a withdrawal that paved the way for a successful summit next month between Gorbachev and Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. The joint declaration was made by Viet Nam, Kampuchea and Laos, but it came largely at the instigation of the Soviets. "The military doesn't like it. They don't believe ((Premier)) Hun Sen's forces are ready," said a senior Vietnamese official in Ho Chi Minh City. "Basically, it's a political decision to withdraw. There's a lot of pressure to get out, especially from the Soviets." Moscow could ill afford...
Whether because of Soviet pressure or its own fatigue, Viet Nam dropped its insistence that a fall pullout could take place only if all aid to the forces opposing its puppet government in Phnom Penh, including those of Prince Norodom Sihanouk and the murderous Khmer Rouge, was simultaneously halted. Kampuchea reserved the right to seek "assistance" once more if such aid continued, but many analysts believe Hanoi is more interested in concentrating on its own sadly deteriorated economy. The Vietnamese hope their withdrawal will ultimately open up economic links to the U.S., which has long made their departure a condition...