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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, NOVEMBER 15, 1982
PAGE 5
Secretary--the top political office in the U.S.S.R.--is Yuri Vladimirovich
Andropov, age 68, one of the two candidates (the other being Konstantin
Chernenko) long-rumored for the leading role.
It is not known now whether Mr. Andropov will also assume Mr. Brezhnev's
other office, the largely ceremonial role of President. It is likely that
during the early stage of Andropov's career, until he further consolidates
his power, this office will go to someone else.
It is significant that the honor of announcing the new leader went to Mr.
Chernenko, thus indicating an attempt on the part of the hierarchy of
Soviet power to close ranks around the new leader in a public display of
unity. Also significant is the fact that in his speech, Mr. Chernenko
stressed that it was now "twice, three times more important to conduct
party affairs collectively." This was seen as a clear reminder to Mr.
Andropov of the principle of collective leadership, a policy refined during
Mr. Brezhnev's 18 years of rule.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Andropov took a tough line. He backed up a
call for hard work at home, in order to spur the stagnant Soviet economy,
with an uncompromising message for the West, similar to his predecessor's
message Only a few days before.
"We know full well," he said, "the
imperialists will never meet one's pleas for peace. It can be upheld only
by resting on the invincible might of the Soviet Armed Forces."
Mr. Andropov's Background
There is much more than mere toughness to Mr. Andropov's character (and
even then his toughness lacks the gruff, uncultured tone of some of his
predecessors).
Yuri Andropov has worked with intense dedication for his
country's interests through his years of service, beginning in 1936. Few
top Soviet leaders have the multi-faceted experience he possesses in the
fields of both domestic and foreign policy.
Andropov was born June 15, 1914 in a little Cossack town in the north Cauca
sus. It is almost certain that one of his maternal grandparents was Jewish.
Rumor has it that his mother was entirely Jewish. Stories also abound that
he has considerable Armenian blood. Researchers for the American C.I.A.
suspect that the family name was quietly changed along the way from
Andropian.
Pictures of the new leader certainly betray non-Slavic
features.
Unlike his predecessors, Mr. Andropov is urbane and coolly intellectual,
with a taste for music and fine art and a penchant for foreign languages.
He can speak and read English, having been tutored by one of the best
teachers of Moscow University. He also has a good working knowledge of both
German and Hungarian.
(In case God's apostle should some day visit the
Soviet Union and speak to its top leadership, at least the new leader, Mr.
Andropov, would understand him fully in English even though they might be
forced to converse diplomatically in each other's home language.)
The new party chief has had a great deal of experience in Eastern European
affairs. He was attached to the Soviet Embassy in Budapest, Hungary from
1954 through 1956 (becoming ambassador in the latter year). After the
Hungarian revolt was crushed, Andropov returned to Moscow as Control Com-