Mohamed H.

Zakaria, Jeddah, published in Arab News on 8 June 1991 Aid to USSR Your editorial Gorbachev and the begging bowl (June 7) has recommended aid to the Soviet Union. The west is very careful in dealing with USSR. It doesnt want the USSR to turn into an economic giant as a result of massive aid. The West is already worried about China, whose economy is doing so well that it has a reasonable chance of lifting itself out of poverty in one generation. Its economic boom proves that any country, regardless of its past mistakes, can do wonders if it has the determination to succeed. Today Chinas inflation is only 2 percent, it has a trade surplus of more than $9 billion, and its foreign exchange reserve are now around $30 billion, making its debt-service ratio a modest 10 percent. Right now the USSR is in bad economic shape. It badly needs Western aid. If perestroika fails, the prospect of a new peaceful period in history will disappear. Gorbachev, all by himself, ended the Cold War and allowed East European states to shake off their Communist heritage. Now it is the Wests turn to extend all possible help and support to Gorbachev, rather than insisting on overnight reforms. Gorbachevs failure would threaten the new world order. The world has an interest in seeing the Soviet Union become prosperous and stable. Muhammad H. Zakaria Jeddah