Pravda editorial on the nationalities issue
“In a Unified Soviet Family”
Every year at and of December we celebrate a noteworthy date — the formation of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Its birth was an important milestone along the path of resolving the nationalities question and the continuation of the cause of Great October. Favorable conditions were created for developing and strengthening the friendship of all our country’s nations and nationalities.
[…]
However, our achievements must not give the impression that there are no problems in national processes… Today it is particularly important to see to it that all the republics’ contributions to accelerating socioeconomic progress and developing a unified national economic complex match their increased economic and spiritual potential. Socialist internationalism in action means primarily honest, conscientious, and wholehearted labor by all peoples for the common good. To make this kind of labor the norm is the most important obligation of every republic’s party, soviet, and social organizations. It is necessary to resolutely rebuff any attempts to place local interests above statewide interests, be it a question of a desire to “outdo” others in the utilization of union-wide funds or the unseemly practice of padding statistics or distorting plan and pledge fulfillment data.
The buildup of the Soviet state’s might and wealth depends on the realization of the potential of every republic and every economic region. This will be promoted to a considerable extent by the territorial approach to planning and management. This is the objective of the measure to broaden the rights of republic and local organs in managing construction, intersector production processes, the social and production infrastructure, and many enterprises producing consumer goods.
[…]
The economic and social progress of all the nations and nationalities has led to the growth of their national self-awareness. At the same time, pride in successes which have been achieved has nothing in common with national arrogance and conceit. Let us state frankly that phenomena of this kind have still not been eliminated.
[Pravda, December 28, 1986]
The Karabagh File, Documents and Facts, 1918-1988, First Edition, Cambridge Toronto 1988, by the ZORYAN INSTITUTE, edited by: Gerard J. LIBARIDIAN, p. 61
