Word: lithuania
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...Washington, the aim was to prepare for the upcoming summit meeting between George Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev. By the time the Soviet Foreign Minister arrived for three days of talks last week, the sessions had taken on far greater importance. In the wake of Gorbachev's campaign to thwart Lithuania's drive for independence, Shevardnadze's visit would be watched for signs of the damage done to U.S.-Soviet relations by Moscow's tough line -- and to gauge Bush Administration priorities in the era of waning superpower tensions...
...outcome of Shevardnadze's three days of talks with Bush and Secretary of State James Baker was simply the announcement of a date for the summit -- several weeks earlier than Washington had anticipated. The announcement that the encounter would start on May 30 in Washington dispelled any question that Lithuania was important enough to derail the meeting. Before departing, a satisfied Shevardnadze could announce: "This summit will certainly become a major event in world affairs...
Even before those differences surfaced, George Bush was having trouble satisfying congressional critics who want firmer White House support for Lithuania, while at the same time avoiding any U.S. steps that might play into the hands of Mikhail Gorbachev's conservative opponents at home. Every time Gorbachev turns up the pain on Lithuania, Bush winces, and he had plenty of reason to grimace last week. As Soviet armored vehicles paraded through Vilnius, the capital, Moscow closed Lithuania's border with Poland and expelled Western reporters from the republic...
...Congress, meantime, stepped up its efforts to pressure Bush into showing displeasure with Moscow's tactics. By a 416-to-3 vote, the House passed a non-binding resolution urging the President to recognize an independent Lithuania "at the earliest possible time." Meanwhile, 31 Senators sent a letter to the White House calling on Bush to spell out U.S. responses -- from trade sanctions to cancellation of the summit -- if the Soviets took further measures against Lithuania...
...Saddam Hussein is certain to continue his quest for the A-bomb. -- The Soviet military's unhappiness is underscored by the crisis in Lithuania. -- Black-on-black violence diminishes the stature of Nelson Mandela. -- Mario Vargas Llosa "risks everything" and runs for President of Peru...