Tightening Comecon
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Jantzen, Günther
Article — Digitized Version Tightening comecon
Intereconomics
Suggested Citation: Jantzen, Günther (1972) : Tightening comecon, Intereconomics, ISSN 0020-5346, Verlag Weltarchiv, Hamburg, Vol. 07, Iss. 9, pp. 258, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02929607
This Version is available at: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/138689
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Tightening Comecon
ntil the spring of 1972 the Premier Kosygin presided on in spite of everything they have U USSR seemed to be de- July 10-12, 1972, should be been saying in favour of East- termined not to take cogni- judged from this aspect. With West trade in the past. The sit- zance of the existence of the one exception, all the main re- uation after the Moscow con- EEC for purposes of trade pol- ports were presented by Soviet ference is that the Russians not icy. The turning point was in representatives. That they dealt only want their allies to pay March 1972 when Brezhnev, ad- with such subjects as "socialist higher prices for raw materials dressing the trade union con- integration", the supply of raw but categorically demand that gress, referred to the "reality" materials and the "Third World" they should take a direct part of the EEC. The change was due and discussed the "political re- in projects on both sides of the to the realisation that from 1973 percussions of the economic Urals; furthermore, they are pre- the EEC will operate a "com- concentration" makes it quite paring measures designed to mon trade policy" in regard to clear that the USSR was play- channel western currency loans the Comecon countries. While ing the leading role. It is true through Moscow. To the smaller suggesting that the Soviet atti- that room was made for some Comecon states-and in relation tude has changed, Brezhnev ideas of members with greater to the USSR most of them are however also stated a claim external interests who would "small"-this amounts to a com- that the EEC would in future like to make Comecon a plan- mittal of their export potential have to regard the "Council for ning-cure-trading union, but this which prevents them from test- Mutual Economic Assistance" did not detract from the lead- ing the competitive strength of (Comecon) as one entity and- ing role of the USSR. their exports in the West as they it was to be gathered-as its thought of doing. Besides, they In the past the Poles and Hun- counterpart in trade matters. are running short of foreign garians in particular have been The mutual relationship would currencies, so that they cannot finding fault with the Comecon depend on the extent to which buy modern investment goods system as a btoc for planning the EEC members for their part and plants they need from the on the ground that "imports" were going to "recognise the West, and to cap it all, they are are for all time circumscribed realities which have developed denied access to western as no more than a stop-gap, in the socialist part of Europe sources of credit. which cannot but impede the - in particular, the interests of development of "exports". The admission of Cuba as a the Comecon member-coun- Hence both these states, as new Comecon member throws tries". well as Romania, were seeking additional burdens on the other To give effect to this claim, to give their economies a west- ones, and it is not to every- Moscow has obtained its allies' ern outlook alongside the Com- body's taste to look after the consent to the formation of a econ ties. Spurred on by the "sick man of the Carribean". tighter and, as regards external example of West European de- That Yugoslavia attended the economic relations, probably velopments, they tried to induce Moscow conference, albeit as highly effective Comecon bloc the USSR to pursue an "inte- an observer, attracts attention. in which Moscow has a domi- gration." in the style of a west- Its Premier, Bijedic, expressed nant influence on the process ern customs union with trade the wish to cooperate from now of socialist integration. In this moving more freely between on closely in all Comecon or- way the USSR has, on the one the Comecon states and curren- gans. Yugoslavia may thus be hand, gone some way to meet cies being made convertible. described as a Comecon "asso- the wishes of various Comecon Present in their minds was the ciate". Whether it was the hope countries which have for a long thought-which must certainly of economic gain which made time been maintaining contacts not be underrated-that if the Yugoslavia seek "association" with Brussels while, on the ties inside were loosened, the or political apprehensions is a other, clasping them more opening to the outside would moot point. Its "reinsurance" tightly to itself. be widened at the same time. premium with Comecon will cer- The outcome of the Comecon The Soviets however have set tainly not be a small one! summit in Moscow, over which close limits to such aspirations, Ggnther Jantzen
258 INTERECONOMICS, No. 9, 1972